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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


&? 


7m      Wj 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  foi  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notas  techniques  et  bibiiographiquas 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicatly  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  4t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqufo  ci-dessous. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


r~n    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurto  et/ou  pellicul6e 


D 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 


□   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul6es 


□   Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□   Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

□   Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  auire  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 
D 

D 
D 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoiortes,  tachetAes  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
QuaiitA  inAgale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reii*  avec  d'autres  documents 


□   Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 


r~7|    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


D 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrAe  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
DBS  <it6  f!!m6ds. 


r~n    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalument  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  Ate  fiimass  A  nouveau  da  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  rAductior  indiqu*  ci-dessous 

10X                           14X                           18X                           22X 

26X 

30X 

; 

y 

12X                            16X                            20X                            24X 

28X                            32X 

: 

ails 

du 

»difier 

una 

nage 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iteeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacit  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  '—^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "I, 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  uppei  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imi^rimie  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  te'ie 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


rrata 
o 


}elure. 


D 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

2.--A  REP( 
BA: 


Duriflg 

of  investiga 

tbe  improve 

Paciflo  Ooai 

accomplisbe 

(liate  direct: 

of  biology  a 

biology  in  t 

expert  of tb 

of  tbe  Uuiti 

Invest! 

Redfish  lak 

d'Oreille,  I 

Messrs.  M( 

Evermann, 

tributary  t 

Sammamis 

Meek;  (8) 

at  Upper  ] 

Oregon,  b^ 

Durin 

recipients 

of  wbom  \ 

Especial  n 

Brotbers 

salmoucai 

Mr.  Willij 

Leonard  C 


Itwai 
ally  good 
botb  lorn 
and  a  con 
Septembt 
tions  of  tl 
the  Bulle 


2.-A  REPORT  UPON  SALMON  INVESTIGATIONS  IN  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER 
BASIN  AND  ELSEWHERE  ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST  IN  189G. 


By  barton  warren  EVERMANN  and  SETH  EUGENE  MEEK. 


Duriflg  the  seasou  of  1896  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  con'luctert  a  number 
of  investigations  in  Idaho,  Washington,  and  Oregon,  having  for  their  general  purpose 
the  improvement  and  extension  of  the  fish-cultural  operations  of  the  Commission  on  the 
Paciflo  Coast.  The  speclflc  object  of  each  inciuiry,  the  details  of  the  work,  and  results 
accomplished  are  given  in  the  following  jjiiges.  The  work  was  under  the  imme- 
diate direction  of  Professor  Evermann,  assisted  by  Dr.  S.  E.  Meek,  associate  professor 
of  biology  and  geology  in  Arkansas  State  University;  Mr.  Ulysses  O.  Cox,  professor  of 
biology  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Mankato,  Minn.;  Mr.  A.  IJ.  Alexander,  fishery 
expertof  the  Fish  Commission  steamer  Albatross;  Mr.  W.F.Hubbard, supei'ntendeut 
of  the  United  States  fish-hatchery  at  Clackamas,  Oregon,  and  Mr.  Alfred  C  Maddren. 

Investigations  were  carried  on  in  ten  diflereiit  regions,  as  follows:  (1)  At  the 
Redflsh  lakes  in  Idaho,  by  Messrs.  Evermann,  Meek,  and  Maddren;  (2)  at  Lake  Pend 
d'Oreille,  Idaho,  by  Messrs,  Alexander  and  Cox;  (3)  al;  Wallowa  Lake,  Oregon,  by 
Messrs.  Meek  and  Maddren;  (4)  on  tributaries  of  the  Lower  Columbia,  by  Messrs. 
Evermann,  Meek,  an(  Hubbard,  and  by  Messrs,  Alexander  and  Cox;  (5)  on  streams 
tributary  to  Pnget  Sound,  by  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Cox;  (0)  at  Lakes  Washington, 
Sammamish,  and  Union,  by  Mr.  Alexander;  (7)  on  the  Siuslaw  Elver,  Oregon,  by  Dr. 
Meek;  (8)  on  Whoahink,  Tsiltcoos,  and  Tahkeniteh  lakes,  Oregon,  by  Dr.  Meek;  (9) 
at  Upper  Klamath  Lake,  by  Messrs.  Meek  and  Alexander;  and  (10)  at  Crater  Lake, 
Oregon,  by  Messrs.  Evermann  and  Cox. 

During  the  progress  of  this  work  the  representatives  of  the  Commission  were  the 
recipients  of  material  assistance  and  many  acts  of  courtesy  from  various  citizens,  to  all 
of  whom  we  are  glad  to  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  and  to  express  our  thanks. 
Especial  mention  should  be  made  of  Mr.  G.  H.  Stevenson,  Vancouver,  Wash.;  Seufert 
Brothers  and  Mr,  I.  H.  Taffe,  salmon  can ners  at  Celilo,  Oregon;  Mr.  Frank  Warren, 
salmou-canner  at  Portland;  Captain  Steers,  of  the  steamer  Lillian,  Fie'  nee, Oregon; 
Mr.  William  Kyle  and  Messrs.  Elmore  &  Sanborn,  salmon-canners  at  i-lorence;  Mr. 
Leonard  Christiauaon,  of  Acme,  Oregon,  and  Mr.  Scott  Morris,  of  Ada,  Oregon. 

THE  REDFISH  LAKES,  IDAHO. 

It  was  found  in  1894  that  these  lakes  and  their  connecting  streams  attbrded  unusu- 
ally good  facilities  for  the  stutly  of  the  spawning  habits  of  the  chinook  salmon  and 
both  forms  of  the  so-called  redflsh.  The  matter  was  taken  up  in  the  following  year 
and  a  continuous  series  of  observations  was  carried  on  at  those  lakes  from  July  17  to 
September  24,  A  detailed  account  of  those  observations,  together  with  full  descrip- 
tions of  the  physical  features  of  the  region,  may  be  found  in  the  published  report,  in 
the  Bulletin  of  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  for  189G,  pp.  149-202. 

15 


16 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED   STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


The  investigations  of  1895  resulted  in  the  following  conclusions  concerning  a 
number  of  importiint  questions  regarding  these  fishes,  viz: 

1.  The  Chinook  salmon  resoiting  to  the  headwaters  of  Salmon  River  for  spawning 
purposes  reach  the  spawning-grounds  in  perfect  condition,  so  far  as  shown  by  external 
a])pearances,  no  mutilations  nor  injuries  of  any  kind  having  been  seen.  The  many 
sores  and  mutilations  seen  upon  them  later  In  the  season  result  from  injuries  incident 
to  spawning,  are  received  on  the  spawning-beds,  and  are  not  due  to  injuries  received 
en  route  from  the  sea. 

2.  After  spawning,  the  chiuook  salmon  coming  to  these  waters  die  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  spawning-beds. 

3.  The  young  chinook  salmon  remain  about  one  year  in  the  streams  where  they 
were  hatched  before  beginning  their. journey  to  the  sea. 

4.  The  large  red  fish  are  identical  with  the  blueback  salmon,  or  sockeye(Oncorhyn- 
chu8  nerka),  and  come  up  from  the  sea,  as  do  the  chinook  salmon.  They  reach  the 
spawning-beds  in  perfect  condition,  are  mutilated  there  during  the  spawning  season, 
and  then  die,  never  returning  to  the  sea. 

5.  The  small  redflsh  sjtawn  at  the  same  time  and  on  the  same  beds  with  the  large 
redOsh.  They  arrive  upon  the  spawning-bcds  in  apparently  perfect  condition,  but  soon 
become  mutilated,  just  as  do  the  large  form  and  the  chinook  salmon,  and  then  dii- 
without  returning  even  to  the  lake. 

6.  Eggs  of  the  small  redfish  laid  in  September  in  the  inlet  to  Alturas  Lake  began 
hatching  on  the  2l8t  of  March  following. 

V.  The  young  redfish  remain  in  Alturas  Lake  at  least  one  year  from  the  time  when 
they  were  spawned. 

The  investigations  of  1895  left  unanswered,  however,  some  of  the  most  important 
and  interesting  questions  concerning  the  redfish.  It  was  not  possible  to  determine 
when  the  large  redflsh  arrives  at  the  Idaho  lakes,  nor  whether  the  small  form  is  really 
anadromous.  Both  forms  were  already  in  Alturas  Lake  before  the  nets  were  set  in 
the  outlet,  on  July  20.  The  importance  of  settling  these  questions,  if  possible,  and 
the  desirability  of  repeating  and  verifying  the  observations  of  1895,  justified  the 
continuance  of  the  work  another  season.  Alturas  Lake  was,  therefore,  again  visited 
in  the  summer  of  1890.  Oarai)  was  established  July  1 1  on  the  outlet  of  Alturas  Lake, 
at  the  ford  about  li  miles  below  Perkins  Lake.  On  account  of  unusually  high  water 
it  was  impossible  to  set  the  gill  nets  satisfactorily  until  July  17.  On  July  22  the  camp 
was  moved  to  the  head  of  Alturas  Lake  and  a  gill  net  was  placed  across  the  inlet  at 
its  mouth.  The  net  at  the  ford  was  taken  up  August  0  and  reset  in  the  outlet  between 
Perkins  and  Alturas  lakes,  thus  making  it  more  easily  reached  from  the  camp.  It 
remaineil  in  this  place  until  September  25,  whea  it  was  taken  up  and  not  reset  again. 
Sedfish  began  to  come  into  the  inlet  August  3.  After  that  date  the  net  was  kept  in 
place  only  at  irregular  intervals  until  August  14,  when  it  was  taken  up. 

High  wafer.— The  spring  of  1890  was  an  unusually  late  oik  n  Idaho.  The  snows 
of  the  preceding  winter  were  much  deeper  than  usual  and  were  slow  in  disappearing  in 
the  spring.  Rains  were  also  uncommonly  frequent,  even  late  in  the  spring  and  during 
the  first  half  of  summer,  the  last  of  importance  occurring  August  0.  A  very  hard 
rain  fell  on  the  night  of  August  3,  resulting  in  a  perceptible  rise  in  the  streams.  On 
Jnly  11  the  streams  were  much  higher  than  at  the  same  time  the  year  before.  Salmon 
River  and  Alturas  Creek  were  overflowing  their  banks  in  many  places;  much  of  the 


valley  rtbo\ 
about  July 
outlet  conh 
water  ran  ( 
only  slight) 
Tempct 
stances  per 
camp  on  t 
kept  hangi 
ill  the  creel 


The  te 
the  head  o 
lake  whert 
front  of  oi 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMIUA    UIVKR   BASIN   IN    18%. 


17 


BFiiing  a  B  valley  above  Alturas  Lake  was  from  a  few  iiielies  to  H  feet  under  water.  Not  until 
about  July  2'2  was  it  possible  to  reach  the  head  of  the  lake  with  a  wayon,  and  the 
outlet  could  not  safely  be  forded  earlier  tiiaii  tliat  date.  After  July  14,  however,  the 
water  ran  down  very  rapidly,  and  dining  August  and  September  Alturas  Creek  was 
only  slightly  higher  than  in  1895. 

TemperaturfH. — Temperature  observations  were  made  as  regularly  as  circum- 
stances permitted.  The  records  for  .hily  11  to  July  21,  inclusive,  are  those  made  at  the 
camp  on  the  outlet  of  Alturas  Ijake.  The  thermometer  for  air  temperatures  w  s 
kept  hanging  in  the  shade  on  a  tree  at  the  camp;  the  water  temperatures  were  taken 
in  the  creek  at  the  camp  in  water  about  a  foot  deep. 

TrmperatKres  revorikd  ut  ihv  oiillel  of  AUiintH  Lake,  Idaho,  •liilij  11  to  ,'JI,  1S06, 


Datxi. 


Ucmr. 


Air. 


■riily  11  ; 

12  < 

\ 
I 

13  i 

14 
16 
10 


8  p.  III. . 
8  II.  m.. 
12  111... 
8  p.  ill.. 
8  11.  III.. 
12111... 
8  |i.  III.. 
8  a.  Ill . . 
12  m... 
8  p.  111.. 
8  a.m.. 
12  III... 
8  p.  111.. 
8  a.  Ill . . 
12  m  ... 
8  p. lu.. 


V. 
02 
.59 
71 
.52 
52 
00 
55 
,58 
70 
62 
03 
71 
01 
liO 
74 
04 


Water. 

Date. 

OF. 

58    • 

July  17 

56 

58    i 

55 

18 

53 

55 

63 

19 

53 

58 

!)4 

20 

54 

57 

50 

21 

ou 

59 

50 

Hour. 


8  n.  Ill 

12  III 

8  p.  in 

8  n.  Ill 

12m 

8  p.  Ill 

8  n.  m 

12  Ml 

8  p.m 

8  a.  Ill 

12.30  p.  Ill 
H.lfi  p.  Ill  . 
8.20  a.  Ill  . 

12111 

8  p.  m  — 


Air. 

Water. 

'     OF. 

OF. 

1        ,55 

55 

1        73 

00 

04 

69 

65 

58 

74 

03 

64 

60 

52 

68 

72 

62 

50 

81 

60 

58 

i        73 

6:i 

00 

01 

50 

58 

70 

63 

63 

61 

The  tempeii'tures  recorded  in  this  following  table  are  tliose  taken  at  the  camp  at 
the  head  of  Alturas  Lake.  The  " inlet''  temperatures  were  taken  a  few  feet  above  the 
lake  where  the  water  was  about  li  feet  deep;  those  for  the  lake  were  taken  just  in 
front  of  our  camp  at  a  depth  of  about  3  feet,  and  those  of  the  air  were  in  the  shade: 

Tvmpi'ratareH  recorded  at  the  hiad  of  Alliirax  Lake,  Idaho,  ■laUj  ,.'3  to  .liiyitut  li,  ISHH. 


Date. 

nonr. 

Air. 

Water. 

Dale. 

Hour. 

Air. 

Water. 

Inlet. 

Lake. 

Inlet. 

Lake. 

OF. 
69 
50 
60 
60 
58 
50 
,59 
65 
58 
54 
55 
57 
58 
53 
57 
57 
60 
55 

51.6 
55 
55 
SO 

July   22 
23 
21 
25 
20 
27 
28 
i9 

OF. 
62 
72 
00 
55 
04 
48 
40 
04 

OF. 



51.5 
43 

47 
49 
41 

•»■»; 

OF.   ': 

55           July  29 

"      li 

60      1             :in 

OF. 
65 
54 
49 
68 
65 
53 
74 
59 
59 
74 
59 
57 
06 
53 
49 
70 
42 
41.5 
57 
44 
4'. 
60 

OF. 
48 
50 
43 
49 
62 
44 
60 
61 
44 
52 
53 
44 
61 

53. ;» 

44 

49 

52 

42.5 

50 

51 

42 

44 

8  p.  Ill 

53.5 

54.5 

51 

53 

,55 

51 

54      : 

50  > 

51  1 
50 

59      , 
50      : 
54 
58 
59 

64      1 
66 
66 
66      ; 

12  m 

12  m 

31 
Auk.    1 

8  p.  Ill 

H  a.  in 

12  ni 

gam          

12  III 

50           51 
.52          42 

69           in 

8  a.  in 

1  I  p.  HI 

8  p.  lu 

2     8  a.  m 

12  m 

H  p,  111         

53 
40 
03 
53 
60 
04 
BO 
48 
67 
49 
62 

51 
42 
47 
51 
43 
47 
50 
55 
61 
49 
43 

p.;  m 

3 

8  p.m 

8  a.  in 

12  m 

8  a.  m 

12  m 

8  11.  ni 

6 

12m 

12  m 

8  p.m 

8  a.  m 

8  p.  III...     ... 

8  a. in      .  . 

12m 

aDuring  the  uiglit  uf  August  3  there  were  licary  tliiuKliM-  and       ii,  8Uo\r  falling  ou  tho  mountains. 


ItilGUB 


F.  C.  U.  1897-2 


18 


miLLETlN   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


In  the  following  diagram  are  shown  the  temperature  curves  obtained  by  taking' 
serial  temperatures  in  Alturas,  I5ig  Ivedfish  and  Wallowa  lakes.  Two  series  were 
taken  in  Alturas  Lake  and  one  in  each  of  the  others. 


TEMPERATURE  IN  FAHRENHEIT  DEGREES. 

0) 

§ 

5 

^ 

(5 

% 

!? 

? 

^ 

? 

o 
to 

in 

lO 

CO 

in 

in 

(0 

m 

00 

m 

0) 

o 

(0 

S 

(0 

»n 

10 

/ 

^ 

r"*" 

-.« 

.••• 

•••' 

<e 

20 

JF' 

-r 

.■r. 

k 

y 

,.••■ 

■••' 

•••' 

30 

.*' 

^ 

r- 

L4» 

* 

= 

S 

■*• 

^•» 

40 

*' 

*«•* 

" 

y 

^ 

_,., 

..-• 

•'' 

50 

4 

^ 

/' 

,.• 

f^ 

60 

/ 
1 

/ 

/ 

,.• 

..•' 

70 

1 
1 

/ 

r 

•••' 

80 

I 

/ 

90 

t 

100 

( 

no 

120 

130 

1 

140 

/ 

j 

150 

*\ 

i 

160 

! 

REFERENCF  TABL  F 

170 

I 

180 

" 

190 

ALTU 

.<»»____ 

200 

RAR  LAKF  inAH 

0- 

210 

AUG.r  rriaae  bpt  ^  x.  e  p  m      1 

220 

1 

1 

1 

BI 

230 

1 
j 

I 

n.  Rrnrmu  i'auit  in 

Aun 

240 

1 
1 

1 

• 

AUG.dT';;896,BE:T.2:30J3:30PM. 

WALLOWA  LAKE.OREGON. 
AUG.20T«    lA<»fi 

250 

1 

1 

260 

1 
1 

270 

1 
1 

280 

1 
1 

290 

e 

_ 

The  fo 

I  the  bar  at 
I  The  llrst,  8 
distance  a\ 


Two  s( 
1 1 ,  bftweei 
ci'iling  paj 
(ibtained  b 
Tlie  circles 
the  lake,  v 
of  .iO  feet, 
tlie  decpes 
fiieatest  d( 

A  sinr 
p.  III.,  the  1 
shows  thai 
tiie  surface 
to  grow  CO 
the  greatei 
water,  and 
lioth  lakes 
is  reached 

These 


tiii)i)ed  1 
bottom  t( 
protectc 
unreliab 
«hawn  u 
water  abc 
these  Id 


).^ 


a 


Cam 
began  on 
of  Altui 
of  1895, 
for  exam 
between 

Begi 
Lake,  sc 
nets  wc 
large  or 
where  b 
eonsidoi 
year  at 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMBIA    KIVEU    HASIN    IN    18% 


10 


by  takiii,' 
leries  were 


Ho 

1. 

5.  Atilciilli  1)1' 7'2  f«ot 4;i'' 

«.   At  (li'ptli  cpf  (III  Icit 40J 

7.  Atdcpth  ul'  10.;  IVct 4(iJ 


The  following  tcinpeiatuies  were  taken  AugiiHt  11,  in  Alturas  Lake  just  beyond 
the  bar  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  inlet.  All  are  bottom  (cmpcratureK  <'.\<;ei)t  the  lirst  three. 
The  first,  second,  third,  and  fourth  were  all  taken  at  the  same  place,  the  others  a  short 
distance  away: 

1.  At  HuiCiifC 87^ 

2.  At  (lipthiif  24  l(!0t ,1t 

.t.  Atilrplh  iif  48loct 45 

4.  Atdoptliof  BU  ffnt 40||    I 

Two  series  of  temperatures  at  diU'erent  depths  were  taken  in  Alturas  Lake  August 
11,  between  .'$  p.  m.  and  0  p.  m.  Tiieseare  shown  on  tiie  temperature  diagram  on  i>re- 
ccding  page.  The  series  indicated  by  the  (irosses  shows  the  bottom  temperatures, 
obtained  by  starting  near  shore  in  1  fathtmi  and  going  outward  into  increasing  depths. 
Tlie  circles  on  the  continuous  line  indicate  a  vertical  series  tnken  near  the  midtlle  of 
the  lake,  where  the  depth  was  150  teet.  It  will  be  noticed  that,  after  reaching  a  deptii 
of  .'SO  feet,  the  two  series  coincide  exactly  and  that  the  temperature  at  the  bottom  in 
tlie  deepest  part  of  tiiis  lake  is  but  slightly,  if  at  all,  above  that  of  fresh  water  at  its 
fiieatest  density,  namely,  39^3. 

A  similar  series  was  taken  at  Big  lledfish  Lake  August  9,  between  L'.;50  and  3.30 
p.  m.,  the  results  of  which  are  [datted  on  the  same  diagram,  an  examination  of  which 
shows  that  this  lake  is,  as  a  whole,  considerably  colder  tiian  Alturas  Lake.  Though 
the  surface  temperatures  are  nearly  tlie  same,  the  water  in  Big  liedlish  Lake  is  seen 
to  grow  colder  nuich  more  rapidly  as  the  depth  increases.  This  is  apparently  due  to 
the  greater  size  and  depth  of  l>ig  Hedlish  Lake,  the  lower  temperature  of  the  inliowing 
water,  and  the  greater  protection  atlorded  by  the  higher  surrounding  mountains.  In 
liiith  lakes,  however,  the  temperature  decreases  rapidly  until  a  depth  of  about  100  feet 
is  reached,  and  beyond  that  depth  the  decrease  is  less  than  '1^  in  either  case. 

These  temperatures  were  taken  with  a  Xegretti  Zandira  deep-sea  thermometer 
tiip])ed  by  means  of  a  messenger,  and  the  results  are  believed  to  be  reliable.  The 
bottom  temi)eratures  which  we  took  at  these  lakes  in  1895  were  taken  with  a  Wilder 
jirotected  thermometer,  and  we  are  now  convinced  that  the  results  obtained  are  wholly 
unreliable  whenever  the  depth  exceeded  a  few  feet.  The  thermometer  can  not  be 
drawn  up  quickly  enough  to  prevent  the  mercury  Irom  being  warmed  by  the  warmer 
water  above.  The  few  bottom  temperatures  given  in  the  report  of  the  work  done  on 
these  Idaho  lakes  in  1895  are  therefore  worthless. 

SUMMAKY   OF  OBSERVATIONS  RE(iARl)INO   THK   UEOFISII. 

(lamp  was  established  on  the  outlet  of  Alturas  Lake  July  11,  and  observations 
began  on  that  date.  The  daily  inspection  of  the  nets  and  the  periodical  examination 
of  Alturas  Creek  and  Salmon  Biver  were  carried  on  essentially  as  during  the  season 
of  1895.  Although  gill  nets  could  not  be  well  i)laced  until  July  17,  the  opportunities 
lor  examining  the  stream  make  it  certain  that  if  any  redtish  had  ascended  to  the  lake 
between  July  11  and  17  they  would  have  been  seen. 

Beginning  with  July  17,  gill  nets  were  kept  constantly  in  the  outlet  of  Alturas 
Lake,  set  in  8u<^h  manner  as  wholly  to  obstruct  the  stream  to  the  ascent  of  fish.  These 
nets  were  kept  in  place  until  September  25,  but  not  a  single  redfish,  either  of  the 
large  or  small  form,  was  caught  in  them.  No  redfish  were  seen  in  the  outlet  or  else- 
where below  Alturas  Lake  during  the  season.  Small  redfish  ai»peared  in  the  iidet  in 
considerable  numbers  in  August  and  September,  but  no  large  redfish  were  seen  this 
year  at  any  of  the  Bedtish  Lakes. 


20 


ll8ll 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED   STATES    I'lSII    COMMISSION. 
The  first  rcdlish  seen  was  ciiught  in  Alturas  Lake  near  the  inlet  July  16,  wliili; 


l(tr  Dolly  Vsuden  trout  in  about  ;50  feet  of  water.    It  was  a  male,  11  i  incli 
Ion},',  and  was  taken  on  a  liook  baited  witii  salmon  spawn.     Its  st<jniacli  was  well  tllU'ilj 
with  food,  cliieliy  small  crustaceans.     Its  color  was  a  rich  metallic  blue  on  the  back, 
beconiinjr  silvery  on  the  lower  sides  ami  under  parts.     The  reproductive  organs  weit 
not  greatly  devcloi»ed. 

The  nest  redlish  were  caught  in  the  inlet  gill  net  on  the  night  of  the  L'<1  of  August. 
3  males  in  prime  condition.  On  the  next  night  .'i  more  males  were  taken,  in  excellent 
condition  and  nearly  or  quite  ripe.  On  the  next  night  8  nuiles  and  A  fenniles  were 
caught,  all  tlie  males  ripe  and  the  females  nearly  so.  Ko  others  were  seen  until 
August  0,  when  about  40  were  observed  in  a  deep  hole  about  a  mile  above  the  lake. 

As  the  redflsh  were  now  running  up  in  considerable  numbers,  the  nets  were  taken 
u])  and  not  put  down  again  except  for  one  night,  August  13,  when  5.'5  jnales  and  ;iL' 
females  were  caught.     None  of  these  showed  any  sores  or  nuitilations  of  any  kind. 

By  the  middle  of  August  the  flsh  had  arrived  in  large  nund)er8,  the  maxinuiin 
being  reached  during  the  last  week  in  that  month.  The  flsh  in  tiie  inlet  were  counted 
at  intervals  and  a  careful  record  made  of  their  numbers.  The  record  reads  as  follows: 
1,044  fish  on  August  18;  1,345  on  August  lil;  1,038  on  August  25;  1,558  on  August 
28;  1,354  on  September  1;  1,515  on  September  4;  1,280  on  September  9;  1,067  on 
September  12;  952  on  September  14;  70.5  on  September  18;  214  on  September  25;  lOG 
on  Sei)tember  28;  October  2,  none. 

The  fish  seen  on  the  first  few  days  were  all  in  perfect  condition,  but  soon  after 
they  began  spawning  mutiuitious  appeared,  and  some  died  as  early  as  August  2.'!.  ? 
After  that  date  they  died  rapidly,  but  the  numbers  were  reinforced  from  time  to  time ! 
by  new  schools  which  continued  to  come  up  from  the  lake  until  probably  the  iirst  week 
in  September.  The  large  decrease  shown  August  25,  compared  with  the  numbei 
observed  four  days  earlier,  was  apparently  caused  by  a  great  numy  fish  being  caught 
out  by  cami)er8.  Beginning  early  in  September  the  number  of  dead  fiah  increased 
and  the  number  of  live  ones  gradually  decreased  until  October  2,  when  all  had  died. 
The  dead  fish  were  usually  found  in  the  deeper  pools  or  ([uiet  portions  of  the  iidet. 
On  September  14  one  dead  redflsh  was  fouiul  lodged  against  the  net  in  the  outlet  a 
few  rods  below  Alturas  Lake,  and  on  September  25  four  were  found  washed  up  on  the 
shore  of  the  lake  a  few  rods  west  of  the  inlet.  These  had  all  doubtless  been  carried 
down  by  the  current. 

Run  later  than  in  lS95.—Ju  1895  the  first  redflsh  appeared  in  Alturas  Inlet  .luly 
25,  the  maximum  was  reached  about  September  (J,  and  all  had  died  by  September  25. 
In  1896  the  run  began  nine  days  later,  the  maximum  was  attained  about  nine  days 
earlier,  and  the  last  live  flsh  were  seen  about  nine  days  later  than  in  1S95.  Though 
the  season  began  a  little  later,  it  covered  almost  exactly  the  same  length  of  time. 

Jli?</(7«r/oHs.— Previous  observations  concerning  the  cause  of  the  mutilations  were 
verifled.    As  the  flsh  came  into  the  inlet  they  were  all  in  perfect  condition,  and  con 
tinned  and  careful  observation  of  their  movements  during  the  spawning  season  showed 
conclusively  that  the  injuries  are  caused  by  contact  with  the  gravel  and  by  fighting 
on  the  spawning-beds. 

Dying  of  the  redflsh  .—The  conclusion  reached  last  year,  that  every  redflsh  dies 
after  spawning  once,  was  based  upon  absolute  proof,  so  far  as  this  region  is  concerned, 
and  no  other  conclusion  was  possible  from  the  observations  made  this  year.    The 


number  of 
and  not  oin 
larger.  Tli 
or  been  car 
(jiiently.  I 
Alturas  Inl 
any  returm 
that  a  sing 

While 
ticularly  sc 
seems  to  be 
cause  of  til 
dying  is  at 
journey  fro 
matter  of  t 
of  the  8]>a' 
water,  and 
journeys  \v 
results  fro 
Alturas  La 
in  their  stc 
dcntly  dee] 
supposed. 

Xo  lar 
and  1  in  tl 
not,  of  cou 
In  1895  on 
Inlet,  and 
Alturas  1 
suflicientlj 
Lake  duri 
August  an 

Are 
answered, 
must  havt 
big  redflsh 
than  July 
probabilit; 
of  these  w 
the  baited 
and  small 
stomach. 
.1.  J.  Sta 
tound  to 
crustaceai 
in  five  or 


tl 


8ALM0N    INVE8TiaATI0N8    IN   COLUMHIA   RIVEU   DASIN   IN    18U(i. 


21 


y  Hi,  while 

well  lilK'd 

tlio  buck. 

ij,'aii8  weit 

ot'Aupiifst, 

n  t'xct'llcnt 

nales  wt'ic 

seen  until 

lie  lake. 

were  taken 

es  and  ;52 

y  kind. 

)  iiuixiniuin 

re  counted 

as  follows: 

on  August 

[);  1,0G7  on 

ber25;  lOG 


soon  after 
Vugust  li.!. 
iinie  to  tinii 
le  iirst  week 
;lie  miinber 
eing  eaugbt 
li  increased 
II  had  died.  * 
if  tlio  inlet. 
;lie  outlet  a 

d  up  OU  till! 

leen  carried 

i  lulet  July 
[)teniber  25. 
t  nine  days 
■».  Though 
if  time, 
ations  were 
in,  and  con- 
son  showed 
by  fightiug 

redfish  dies 
concerned, 
year.    The 


number  of  redfish  entering  Alturas  Inlet  in  189")  was  about  2,000  in  round  numbers, 
and  not  one  ever  returned  alive  to  the  lake  below.  The  run  this  year  was  somewiuit 
larger.  The  greatest  number  «',ounted  at  any  one  time  was  1,5,*)8,  but  niany  had  died 
or  been  (iaught  by  campers  i)rior  to  that  time,  and  many  new  sciliools  came  in  subso- 
(|iiently.  It  is  a  conservative  estimate  to  say  that  between  2,500  and  .'5,000  fish  enteied 
Alturas  Inlet  in  1800.  W'.ile  the  observations  for  the  purpose  of  determining  wlieriier 
any  returned  to  the  lake  were  not  as  carefully  nuide  as  in  1805,  there  is  no  evidence 
that  a  single  fish  ever  returned  to  the  lake  alive. 

While  the  nuitilations  ,ire  usually  (piito  severe,  in  many  cases  they  are  not  par- 
ticularly so,  and  unmutilated  fish  were  sometinu^s  found  dead  or  dying.  This  fact 
seems  to  be  of  great  importance  because  of  the  light  wh'w.h  it  throws  ui)ou  the  probable 
cause  of  the  death  of  spawning  salmon.  Some  naturalists  have  maintained  that  tiio 
dying  is  attributable  to  the  injuries;  others  that  exhaustion  resulting  from  the  long 
journey  from  the  sea  or  long  abstinei.ee  from  the  use  of  food  is  the  cau.se;  but  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  many  observer  have  seen  salmon  dying  in  large  nund^ers  at  the  end 
of  the  sjjawning  season  in  waters  only  a  few  nules  from  the  sea,  and  even  in  salt 
water,  and  the  cause  could,  therefore,  not  have  been  exiuiustion  resulting  from  long 
journeys  without  food,  or  mutilations  received  on  such  journeys.  That  the  dying 
results  from  long  abstinence  from  food  is  completely  di8i)roved  by  observations  at 
Alturas  Lake,  where  redtish  liave  been  observed  to  come  up  out  of  the  lake  with  food 
in  their  stomachs,  and  have  died  a  few  days  after  spawning.  The  true  cause  is  evi- 
dently deeper  seated  in  its  nature  and  more  general  in  its  application  than  has  been 
supposed. 

N^o  lartje  redfinh  seen  in  1896. — In  1894, 14  large  redfish  were  seen  in  Alturas  Inlet 
and  1  in  the  inlet  to  Pettit  Lake,  and  as  these  waters  were  visited  only  on(!e  this  does 
not,  of  course,  indicate  the  total  number  that  may  have  spawned  there  in  that  year. 
In  1805  only  about  8  large  redfish  were  seen,  .'5  in  the  inlet  to  Pettit  Lake,  3  in  Alturas 
Inlet,  and  2  in  Alturas  Lake.  During  the  season  of  1896  no  large  redfish  appeared  in 
Alturas  Iidet,  nor  were  any  seen  at  Pettit  Lake,  which,  however,  was  Jiot  visited 
sufficiently  often  to  fully  determine  the  matter.  None  was  observed  at  Hig  Redfish 
Lake  during  a  trip  there  August  8  to  10,  and  parties  who  visited  the  lake  during 
August  and  September  report  seeing  no  redfish. 

Are  the  Hinall  redflxh  anadromousf — This  question  can  not  yet  be  positively 
answered.  If  they  are,  they  had  reached  Alturas  Lake  prior  to  July  11,  just  as  they 
must  have  reached  it  before  July  20,  in  1895.  But  this  may  very  well  be  so,  tor  the 
hig  redfish,  which  is  undoubtedly  anadronious,  had  also  reached  this  lake  earlier  in  1805 
than  July  20.  Observations  at  Alturas  and  Wallowa  lakes  point  strongly  to  the 
probability  of  the  small  redfish  being  permanently  resident  in  those  lakes.  The  first 
of  these  was  the  catching  of  a  small  redfi.sh  in  Alturas  Lake  July  10.  This  fish  took 
the  baited  hook,  and  its  stomach  was  fouiul  to  contain  some  food,  chiefiy  insect  larvic 
and  small  crustaceans.  One  caught  in  the  gill  net  August  0  had  a  trace  of  food  in  its 
stomach.  Twelve  small  redfish  were  caught  with  grabhooks  in  Wallowa  Lake  by  Mr. 
.1.  J.  Stanley,  about  the  first  of  September,  and  the  stomachs  of  9  of  them  were 
found  to  contain  food  consisting  almost  wholly  of  entoniostracans  and  other  small 
crustaceans.  In  one  case  the  stoma<!li  contained  a  snnUl  quantity  of  some  alga  and 
iu  live  or  six  cases  the  stomach  was  quite  full  of  food. 


22 


ItULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITKD   STATES    FI8II   COMMISSION. 


Tho  tWL'Ivo  siu'ciinciis  taken  by  Mr.  Stuiilcy  were  inah's  which  probably  woiilil 
huv«  spiiwiuHl  thiit  Hcasoii.  They  are  <!()iisi(l(Mably  Hinaller  tliaii  any  heretofore  taken 
and  vary  from  Ojj  to  OU  inelie.sin  total  length;  one  found  dead  on  the  shore  of  WallowM 
Lake  August  24  is  only  OJ  inelies  long. 

In  the  light  of  all  tiieso  faets  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  the  Hinall  redflsh  eonie  up 
from  the  sea.  On  the  other  hand,  when  we  consider  that  the  large  and  small  forms 
present  no  structural  dilVerences  of  value,  tiiat  they  s])awn  at  the  same  time  an<i  on 
tho  same  beds,  that  the  small  form  has  never  been  seen,  so  far  as  known,  in  any  of 
these  lakes  excei)t  at  spawning  time,  and  that  they,  like  other  members  of  the  genus, 
die  after  once  spawning,  it  is  eiiually  dillicult  to  believe  that  they  are  iMsrmancntiy 
resident  in  fresh  water. 

Chinook  mbnon  in  the  upper  Salmon  River. — The  number  of  chinook  salmon  "om.  ng 
to  these  «paw!iing  beds  in  1895  was  not  far  from  1,0(»().  The  first  appeared  .Inly  J4,  ami 
the  n  aximum  number  was  reached  about  August  24.  All  arrived  in  p'  •  -ct  condition, 
and  all  died  soon  iifter  spawning,  none  returning  to  the  sea. 

Not  much  time  was  given  to  the  chinook  salmon  in  IHiMj,  only  occasional  visits 
being  made  to  Balnon  Uiver.  From  siuih  observations  as  were  made  and  from  infor 
mation  obtained  fvom  various  ijarties  who  came  up  the  river  fr<»m  Stanley  Basin  ami 
other  jyoints  below,  it  appears  that  the  run  was  very  small  and  much  later  than  in  the 
preceding  year.  Four  were  seen  in  Alturas  Creek,  at  the  mouth  of  Pettit  outh-t. 
August  24,  and  seven  days  later  7  more  were  seen  in  the  Salmon  Kiver  a  nule  below 
the  mouth  of  Alturas  Creek.  On  September  .'5,  8  were  seen  fn>m  this  point  down  to 
Soaring  Creek.  The  same  lisli,  or  possibly  others,  weie  seen  at  vari«)iis  times  until 
September  II,  alter  which  no  more  vrere  seen.  Mr.  Sjjringer,  who  was  fishing  ami 
hunting  for  the  Custer  uuuket,  says  that  in  Bear  Valley  and  Sul|)hur  creeks,  where 
salmon  have  until  this  year  been  plentiful,  not  one  was  seen.  lie  saw  only  I  salmon 
in  Salmon  River  below  Koaring  Creek. 

LAKE   PEND    D'GREILLE,    IDAHO. 

In  February,  1889,  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  placed  in  Lake  Pend 
d'Oreille  1,300,000  fry  of  the  common  wliitetish  (Vorcf/onnii  linpciformiii).  Until  now 
n<»  investigation  had  ever  been  made  to  determine  whether  any  of  these  fish  survived. 
Fugitive  reports  have  come  to  the  Commission  from  time  to  time  of  the  capture  of 
examples  of  this  species,  but  specimens  submitted  for  identilication  proved  to  be  the 
common  rati ve  species  (C«re//fm»s  (Pii/(VnH.sojt/).  If  the  planted  sjtecies  succe^ided  in 
establishing  itself,  the  individuals  would  by  this  time  have  attained  a  size  suflicieur 
to  enable  them  to  be  taken  in  gill  nets. 

Mr.  A.  15.  Alexiiuder  and  Prof.  IJ.  O.  Cox  were  instructed  to  go  to  Lake  Pend 
d'Oreille  and  endeavor  to  determine  the  result  of  the  whitefish  plant  made  in  this 
lake  in  1889,  and  to  make  investigations  regarding  the  suitability  of  the  lake,  in  its 
physical  and  biologic  features,  to  the  common,  wliitetish.  The  investigations  were 
begun  June  25  and  it  was  hojjed  they  might  continue  through  the  season,  but, owin^ 
to  urgent  work  on  Pugct  Sound,  which  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Cox  were  directed  to 
perform,  the  Pend  d'Oreille  investigations  were  discontinued  July  10.  Excecsiveiy 
high  water  prevailed  during  the  time  si)eiit  upon  the  lake  and  the  conditions  wre  not 
favorable  for  investigations  of  this  kind.  Gill  nets  were  set  in  diflcrent  places  in  the 
north  end  of  the  lake,  but  no  tests  were  nuido  in  the  southern  |K>rtion.     While  no 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMHIA    HIVKK    IIA8IN    IN    lH!)ti. 


23 


lily  would 
fore  tak«'i] 
Waliowii 

li  «-onH'  up 
nail  tVirnis 
till*  and  oil 
in  auy  ol' 
tlie  (:«""><• 
trmanently 

on  "om.'i;,' 
iy  J4,  and 
t  condition. 

ional  visits 

from  itifor 

iSasin  and 

tliaii  in  till' 

ttit  outlit. 

mill;  iMilow 

int  down  tn 

times  until 

tisliin;;  and 

eeks,  wlieii' 

ly  1  Haluioii 


Lake  I'end 
Until  now 
ill  survived. 
li  tapture  ot' 
d  to  be  the 
icc<!eded  in 
ze  sufficient 

Lake  Pend 
lade  in  this 
lake,  iu  its 
itions  were 
,  but,  owin;: 
directed  to 
Excec.4iveiy 
ins  wre  not 
ilaces  111  tlif 
While  no 


wliitetlsh  were  found,  the  result  can  not  be  ret;arded  as  com-lusive.    The  iuvestigatiouH 
siiouhi  be  resitnied  and  continued  until  the  whole  lake  can  be  carefully  examined. 

The  roiiort  upon  the  jihysical  examination  of  the  lake  and  upon  the  (ish-food 
collected  will  be  reserved  until  a  more  thorough  study  of  this  important  body  of  water 
can  be  made. 

WALLOWS   LAKE,  OREGON.  ' 

It  has  been  known  for  several  yeai  <  "at  Imtli  the  lar^e  and  small  redtlsh  have 
spawning-beds  in  the  inlets  of  this  lake,  and  that  chinook  salmon  spawn  in  WaUowa 
Uiver  and  other  streams  in  that  r  inn.  A  short  visit  was  made  to  Wallowa  Lake  by 
Messrs.  Meek  and  Maddren  on  x  jiust  1!),  and  ihey  remained  there  and  on  Wallowa 
River  until  August  2G. 

Wallowa  Liikt  is  in  the  nortlieasferii  portion  of  Oregon  and  in  the  southern  part 
(if  Wallowa  Ooiinty.  It  lies  in  the  soiithern  end  of  a  considerable  valley,  which  is 
hounded  on  the  east,  south,  and  v^est  by  the  I'owder  River  T.^r'untains.  This  lake  is  of 
fjlainal  origin,  and  is  bordered  on  the  east  and  west  sides  by  innneiise  hiteriil  moraines, 
which  rise  aiiout  1,L'0()  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lako  at  t'le  upper  end,  but  become 
less  high  as  the  lower  end  of  the  lake  is  apinoaclu-d.  Across  the  broad  (sanyon  at  the 
foot  of  the  lake  is  a  teriiiiiial  moraine  a  few  feet  high,  through  which  the  outlet  has  cut 
its  way.  At  the  foot  of  each  of  the  lateral  moraines,  about  20  feet  above  the  surface 
(if  the  water,  is  a  bench  from  20  to  over  100  ffct  in  width.  This  bench  was  evidently 
liirmed  when  the  surface  of  the  lake  was  at  that  height.  The  outlet  has  cut  a  sort 
of  canyon  through  the  terminal  moraine  and  lowered  the  lake  to  its  present  level. 
The  sides  of  the  moraines  above  and  below  these  benches  are  very  steep,  and  except 
along  the  ujiper  one-third  of  the  lake  there  is  very  little  timber  on  them.  There  is  a 
dense  growth  of  willows  and  alder  ahmg  the  south  shore  of  the  lake,  extending  back- 
ward into  the  valley  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile.  The  rest  of  the  valley  near  the  head 
of  the  lake  is  <inite  heavily  timbered. 

The  mountains  near  the  head  of  the  lake  are  very  rugged,  and  are  said  to  be  over 
5,000  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake. 

Wallowa  Lake  is  about  4A  miles  long  from  north  to  south,  with  a  maximum  width 
of  about  1  mile.  The  greatest  depth  found  was  2.^0  feet.  Its  shores  are  (piite  regular, 
tliere  being  no  marked  indentations  anywhere.  The  beach  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
lake  is  sandy;  that  on  the  other  three  shores  is  for  the  most  i)art  covered  by  bowl- 
ders. The  inlet  of  this  lake  has  its  origin  in  some  lakes  about  .3  miles  farther  up  the 
narrow  valley.  The  'argest  of  these  is  said  to  be  about  half  a  mile  iu  diameter. 
About  2^  miles  above  V'/allowa  Lake  are  Wallowa  Falls.  Just  before  reaching  this 
point  the  inlet  Hows  througli  :i  '•anyon  about  00  feet  in  depth,  the  height  of  the  falls 
being  about  50  feet.  The  water  tails  into  a  basin  about  50  feet  in  diameter,  the  outlet 
of  which  is  15  to  20  feet  wide.  A  great  many  bull  trout  are  caught  with  hook  and 
line  in  this  basin  each  year.  J^etween  the  falls  and  the  lake  the  inlet  Hows  most  of 
the  distance,  with  a  swift  current,  over  a  bed  of  bowhlers.  Within  about  half  a  mile 
of  the  lake  the  inlet  breaks  up  into  two  or  more  channels,  and  finally  discharges  its 
waters  into  the  lake  by  two  mouths,  which  are  only  a  few  rods  apart.  The  mouth  of 
the  inlet  has  been  changed  within  the  past  few  years.  The  stream  is  very  swift  iviid 
contains  very  few  gravel  beds,  and  these  are  along  its  lower  mile.    Another  small 


24 


BULLETIN    OP   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


S 


inlet  empties  into  tlic  lake  near  its  southeast  corner;  this  inlet  is  only  a  small  brook 
in  summer.    The  lakes  and  the  iulet  above  the  falls  ai-e  said  to  contain  no  tish  life. 

Wallowa  Kiver,  as  it  leaves  the  lake,  is  a  very  rapid  stream  and  ilows  over  a  bod 
of  bowlders.  The  first  half  mile  of  its  course  is  through  a  canyon  about  30  feet  deep. 
From  Joseph  to  Lostine  the  river  is  said  to  be  very  rapid.  n, 

The  West  Fork  of  Wallowa  River  rises  in  the  mountains  west  of  Wallowa  Lake, 
and,  after  flowing  in  a  general  northerly  direction  uiitil  within  about  a  mile  of  the 
main  fork  at  Lostine,  it  bends  to  the  westward  and  joins  the  main  fork  a  short  dis 
tauce  below  that  town.  About  12  or  15  miles  below  where  these  two  forks  come 
together  Wallowa  River  is  joined  by  Minam  River,  which  forms  a  part  of  the  western 
boundary  of  Wallowa  County.  The  river  here  flows  nearly  due  nortli,  and  soon 
unites  with  the  Grande  Ronde  River,  a  tributary  of  Snake  River. 

About  4  tuiles  from  Lostine  up  the  West  Fork  of  Wallowa  River,  the  river  was 
narrower  and  flowed  with  considerable  velocity  among  the  huge  bowlders  scattered 
over  its  bed.  About  3  miles  above  Lostine  there  is  a  somewhat  level  stretch  in  tiie 
river  of  about  half  a  mile,  which  includes  some  gravel  bars.  From  Lostine  to  the 
mouth  of  Minam  River  the  Wallowa  is  a  rapid  stream,  flowing  most  of  the  distance 
over  a  bed  of  bowlders.  Gravel  or  sand  bars  are  not  common.  The  water  is  very 
clear,  and  at  tlie  time  of  our  visit  was  not  over  3  feet  deep  in  this  portion  of  the  stream. 
Minam  River  is  smaller  and  is  said  to  be  very  similar  to  the  Wallowa.  The  Grande 
Ronde  River  was  seen  at  Lagrande  and  Elgin  and  at  various  i)laces  between  those 
towns.    It  appears  to  be  a  rather  sluggish  stream,  the  Avater  being  warm  and  muddy. 

Somidings  and  Temperatures. — The  following  soundings  and  temperatures  were 
taken  on  Wallowa  Lake  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  south  end  of  the  lake.  Wc 
began  on  the  west  side  and  counted  the  strokes  of  the  oars  as  we  crossed,  taking 
Doundiiigs  and  temperature  at  intervals,  as  shown  below.  The  first  sounding  was 
made  20  oar  strokes  from  the  west  shore. 

Soiinilinga  and  tempcratiives  taken  in  Wallowa  Lake,  Augutt  SO,  1896. 


Htiiikes 

StrokeB 

taken 

Teniper- 

takun 

Temper- 

ln'tweeii 

Depth. 

ntiiru  ut 

botwoeii 

Depth. 

ature  at 

mitiiid- 

bottom. 

HdllUll' 

huttom. 

ings. 

illgS. 

^'o. 

Feet. 

op 

No. 

Feet. 

°F. 

20 

42 

51 

50 

210 

4(1} 

100 

216 

40) 
40| 

ao 

]«0 

40} 
41i 

100 

•IM 

30 

Be 

lOU 

2:14 

401 

35  Htr< 

)kcs  to  east  shore. 

100 

228 

404 

i 

Temperature  of  water  at  aurraie  05°. 

The  greatest  depth,  250  feet,  was  about  a  mile  from  the  south  end  of  the  lake  and 
about  a  third  the  distance  across  from  the  west  ~'  ore;  the  bottom  temperature  here 
was  40.p.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  this  point  and  near  the  middle  of  the 
jake  from  east  to  west  a  depth  of  24G  feet  was  found,  and  the  same  bottom  temperature. 
A  series  of  temperatures  taken  August  20  is  platted  '^::  i>age  is.  The  surface  of  the 
lake  near  the  inlet  at  3  p.  m.,  August  24,  was  62°  when  tiie  air  was  70".  The  tempera 
ture  of  tlie  east  iiilet  at  the  same  time  was  52'^  and  the  other  was  48".  Tlie  water  in  a 
small  spring  creek  was  44°. 


liedfisl 
tills  lake,  A 
appears  tin 
come  up  th 
i  about  thre< 
ni>per  end. 
tliclake,  b 
tlie  lake  an 
during  the 
large  redtii 

1883. 
1884, 
1885, 
188(J 
1887, 
1890 
1891 
1891 
1895 
189G 

In  the 
irrigating 
of  Joseph 
The  large 
and  its  on 
lliver.    O 
54  inches 
Accoi 
in  Septeni 
they  spa\\ 
tlie  sinal 
w  hich  he 
calls  "gri 
the  lake, 
was  calle( 
"grayliu} 

Chin 
of  Wallo 
the  Main 
lieen  seei 
niii  is  in 

Wes 
Ireiiuentt 
(III  the  81 
an  India 

Stcrl 
and  Apr 
seen  in  t 


liiall  brook 
tish  life, 
over  a  bed 
feet  deej). 

owa  Lake, 
nile  of  tlio 
short  (lis 
brks  couK! 
le  western 
and  60011 

river  was 

scattered 

tell  in  the 

tine  to  the 

le  distance 

rter  is  very 

the  stream. 

'he  Grande 

iveen  those 

nd  muddy. 

tares  were 

hake.    We 

5ed,  takiii"!; 

mding  was 


le  hike  and 
rature  liere 
idle  of  the 
inperature. 
face  of  the 
10  tomi)era 
water  in  a 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER  BASIN   IN   1896. 


25 


Eedjish  at  Wallowa  Lalce. — No  large  redfish  were  seen  at  the  time  of  our  visit  to 
this  hike,  August  19-26.  From  interviews  with  persons  familiar  with  the  region  it 
appears  that  the  largo  redfish  usually  reach  the  lake  during  the  last  half  of  July.  They 
come  up  the  river  with  the  first  run  of  chinook  salmon,  the  run  into  the  lake  lasting 
about  three  weeks.  Soon  after  entering  the  lake  they  are  seen  in  large  schools  at  its 
ui>l)er  end.  They  begin  to  spawn  in  September.  They  are  not  red  when  they  enter 
tlie  lake,  but  become  so  a  short  time  before  spawning.  They  spawn  in  the  inlets  of 
the  lake  and  on  the  shores  of  its  upper  end.  They  were  formerly  caught  for  the  market 
during  the  month  of  August,  According  to  Jlr.  J.  J.  Stanley,  of  Joseph,  the  run  of 
large  redfish  in  Wallowa  Lake  in  each  year  since  1882  was  as  follows; 

1883.  The  run  of  redfish  was  very  large, 

1884.  It  is  estimated  that  less  than  100  redfish  entered  liir  lake. 

1885.  About  7.5  were  caught  with  u  seiiio,  tlie  nm  boiiin  .  ery  Hiiiall. 
188().  The  run  was  very  large,  but  not  as  largf  as  in  1883. 

1887, 1888,  and  188!).   A'ery  few  rodflsh  were  canglit  with  spears  in  tlii'  river  altove  the  lake. 

1890.  The  run  was  quite  largo ;  two  parties  salted  many  for  the  home  market. 
1891, 1892,  and  1893.     Very  few  redfish  seen  in  the  lake  during  these  years. 

1891.  About  2,000  rediisli  weie  caught  at  the  head  of  the  lake  ami  saltoil. 
1895.     Tlie  run  was  again  very  tuiall. 

1890.     The  run  was  very  small;  about  one  dozen  were  seen  in  the  lake  and  one  in  the  inlet. 

In  the  spring  many  small  fish,  from  about  G  to  8  inches  in  length,  are  stranded  in 
irrigating  ditches,  many  others  are  killed  by  entering  mill-races.  By  the  inhabitants 
of  Joseph  these  are  thought  to  be  the  young  of  the  big  redfish  on  their  way  to  the  sea. 
The  large  redfish  are  not  known  from  any  streams  in  this  region  except  in  the  lake 
and  its  outlet  and  inlets.  It  is  said  never  to  run  up  the  West  Fork  of  the  Wallowa 
River.  Only  one  small  redfish  was  observed  while  at  Wallowa  Lake,  a  small  example 
aj;  inches  long,  which  was  found  dead  on  the  lake  shore  August  24. 

According  to  Mr.  Stanley,  the  small  redfish  are  seldom  or  never  seen  there  except 
in  September,  and  taeii  only  in  schools  at  the  head  of  the  lake  or  in  the  inlets  where 
they  spawn,  at  the  jame  time  and  on  the  same  beds  with  the  large  redfish.  He  says 
the  small  ones  are  called  "yanks,"  and  that  not  more  than  1  in  la  is  a  female;  12 
w  liieh  he  caught  for  us  were  all  males.  According  to  Mr,  Stanley,  the  fish  which  he 
calls  "grayling"  is  usually  seen  only  in  June,  when  it  is  easily  caught  by  trolling  in 
the  lake.  The  small  redfish  found  dead  on  the  beach  of  Wallowa  Lake,  August  24, 
was  called  a  nrayling  by  Mr,  Staiiley,  from  which  it  seems  probable,  that  the  so-called 
"grayling"  are  the  more  silvery  small  redfish, 

Chinook  aalmon. — This  salmon  is  known  to  enter  both  the  West  and  Main  Forks 
of  Wallowa  Iliver,  the  majority  ruining  into  the  West  Fork,  Those  which  keep  in 
the  Main  Fork  enter  Prairie  Creek,  where  they  have  their  si)awning-beds.  They  have 
been  seen  in  the  outlet  3lose  to  the  lake  itself.  The  early  run  is  in  July,  The  largest 
run  is  in  September  when  they  are  known  locally  as  "dog  salmon,"' 

West  Fork  was  examined  for  a  distaiuie  of  4  miles,  that  portion  of  the  river  most 
trequented  by  chinooks,  but  no  salmon  were  seen,  Fcmr  had  been  caught,  however, 
on  the  spawning-beds  3  miles  above  Lostine  a  few  days  before,  and  one  was  killed  by 
an  Indian  below  Lostine  about  the  same  time, 

Stcdhead  trout. — The  steelhead  reaches  Lostine  on  the  Wallowa  Ivivcr  ia  March 
and  April,  They  spawn  mostly  in  the  West  Fork  of  Wallowa  Itiver,  very  few  being 
seen  in  the  Main  Fork. 


26 


BULLETIN   OP   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


LOWER  COLUMBIA  RIVER. 

It  being  the  desire  of  tlie  Cominissiouer  to  establish  a  station  for  the  hatching  of 
salmon  in  the  Lower  Columbia  lliver  basin,  we  were  directed  to  visit  and  examine 
various  streams,  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of  The  1  )alles  and  Cascades,  and  select  u 
site  suitable  for  such  purposes. 

The  conditions  requisite  for  such  fish-cultural  operations  as  were  contemplated 
are  essentially  as  follows:  (1)  An  abundant  supply  of  salmon  easily  obtainable  when 
ripe,  or  nearly  so;  (2)  water  of  proper  quality  as  to  jmrity  and  temperature  and  in 
sutticient  qiumtity;  (3)  suitable  land  upon  which  to  locate  the  hatchery  building,  and 
so  situated  as  to  permit  the  water  to  be  brought  to  the  hatching-troughs  by  means  of 
gravity;  (4)  proximity  of  building  materials  and  good  railroad  facilities. 

Upon  taking  up  this  inquiry  it  became  at  once  e\ndeiit  that  no  definite  informa- 
tion existed  concerning  the  location  of  salmon -spawning  beds  anywhere  in  the  Lower 
Columbia  Itiver  basin  and  information  regarding  the  spawning  time  was  equally 
uncertain  and  unreliable.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to  visit  as  many  streams  as 
possible  and  determine  the  facts  by  personal  inspection  and  by  interviews  with  people 
living  on  or  near  them. 

Tlie  telegraphic  instructions  dated  August  1  directed  that  a  site  be  definitely 
selected,  and  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  that  the  station  might  be  operated  duriiif; 
the  season  of  18!)G.  In  order  to  be  able  to  examine  as  many  streams  as  possible  in 
the  brief  time  at  our  disposal  Messrs.  Cox  and  Alexander  were  ordered  from 
1  uget  Sound  to  examine  the  Lewis  River  and  other  streams  below  Vancouver,  whiU' 
Messrs.  Evermann  and  IIubl)ard  made  examinations  at  the  Cascades,  The  Dalles, 
Hood  I'iver,  Big  White  Balmou,  and  Celilo.  These  incjuiries  were  made  during  tlu' 
first  ten  days  of  August.  Later  (August  2S  to  September  G)  Messrs.  Evermann  and 
Meek  examined  the  Des  Chutes,  John  Days,  Hood,  Big  White  Salmon,  and  Little 
White  Salmon  rivers,  and  on  September  7  and  8  Messrs.  Evermann  and  Hubbard 
reexamined  Little  White  Salmon  River  and  examined  Tanner  and  Eagle  creeks  near 
Bonneville.  Mr.  Hubbard  also  visited  Hamilton  and  Rock  creeks  across  the  river 
from  Cascades,  and  Mr.  Alexander  made  an  examination  of  Toutle  River,  Wash 
ington.  Only  the  nuu-e  important  results  of  these  various  inquiries  are  given  here, 
detailed  reports  having  been  made  at  the  tinie  to  the  Commissioner. 


i'l 


LEWIS   KIVEU. 

This  river  forms  the  boundary  between  Clarke  and  Cowlitz  counties.  Wash.,  and 
flows  into  the  Columbia  between  Vancouver  and  Kahuna.  Two  main  branches,  known 
as  the  Nortli  Fork  and  Soutli  Fork,  unite  only  a  few  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Tlie  North  Fork  has  its  headwaters  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  Mount  St.  Helens;  the 
Sontii  Fork  rises  in  Skamania  County,  southeast  of  Mount  St.  Helens.  No  salmon 
were  seen  in  the  Nortii  Fork  at  tlie  tiino  of  Mr.  Alexander's  visit,  during  the  first 
week  in  August.  It  is  said  tliat  the  salmon  of  tiie  spring  run  do  not  enter  the  river,  but 
that  large  numbers  of  cliinook  salmon  of  the  fall  run  enter  it;  also  a  good  many  silver 
salmon  and  steelheads.  Tlie  ehinooks  are  said  never  to  run  in  until  after  the  10th  of 
August,  when  the  close  season  begins.  When  the  close  season  ends  (September  10) 
fishing  with  gill  nets  and  seines  is  carried  on  to  some  extent  in  this  river.  Son<« 
logging  is  carried  on  in  this  stream  during  the  sprii.g,  but  it  ceases  long  betbre  '  ^. 
salmon  arrive. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN   IN   1896. 


27 


atcliing  of 
examine 
id  select  m 

templated 

able  when 

ire  and  in 

ding,  and 

means  of 

e  informa- 
the  Lower 
18  equally 
streams  as 
nth  people 

3  definitely 
ted  diirinj; 
possible  ill 
ered  from 
uver,  while 
'ho  Dalles, 
during  the 
rmann  and 
and  Little 
I  Hubbard 
creeks  near 
i  the  river 
ver,  Wasli 
fiven  here, 


Vash.,  and 
lies,  known 
ftlie  river 
elens;  the 
No  salmon 
g  the  first 
'river,  but 
lany  silver 
the  10th  of 
tember  10) 
er.  Son>«^ 
belbre    '  ..* 


Considerable  spawningbeds  are  said  to  be  located  in  the  vicinicy  of  vEtna.  The 
water  is  pure  and  cold,  and  if  (diinook  salmon  really  come  there  in  large  numbers  all 
other  conditions  are  favorable  for  fish  cultural  purposes. 

The  South  Fork  was  exaTuincd  as  far  up  as  La  Center.  This  stream  is  about  the 
same  size  as  the  North  Fork,  but  the  water  is  not  clear.  The  banks,  in  the  lower 
portion  at  least,  are  composed  of  red  clay  or  easily  disintegrated  rock,  and  the  water 
is  thus  usually  kept  more  or  less  muddy.  Below  La  Center  there  seenis  to  be  no 
bottom  suitable  for  s])awn'.ng-beds  and  there  are  no  tributary  creeks  from  which  water 
suitable  for  hatchery  purposes  could  be  obtained.  Chinook  salmon  of  the  fail  run  are 
said  to  enter  tiiis  fork,  but  the  locality  of  their  8i>awning-beds  is  not  known.  No 
salmon  were  seen  by  Professor  Cox  at  the  time  of  his  visit. 

TOUTLE  RlVEIl. 

This  stream  is  an  eastern  tiihutary  of  the  Cowlitz,  into  which  it  flows  a  few  miles 
north  of  Castle  Kock.  About  11  miles  above  its  mouth  is  a  fall  15  feet  high.  From 
tliis  point  down  there  are  many  riffles  suitable  for  spawning-beds,  and  where  racks 
could  be  put  in  without  difliculty.  One  of  the  best  places  is  at  the  mouth  of  Pat's 
theek,  about  7  or  8  miles  above  the  moutii  of  the  river,  where  the  stream  is  35  to  75 
feet  wide  and  the  bed  is  of  coarse  sand  and  gravel.  Suitable  water  for  hatchery 
purposes  could  be  obtained  from  the  creek. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  fall  run  of  salmon  enters  this  river  in  considerable  numbers, 
including  chinook,  silver,  dog,  humpback,  and  steelhead.  Salmon  appeared  to  be 
scarce  at  the  time  the  river  was  examined,  as  only  three  were  seen  by  j\lr.  Alexander; 
hut  it  was  stated  that  they  would  be  more  abundant  about  the  Ist  of  September.  They 
are  said  to  collect  in  numbers  at  the  foot  of  the  falls  asready  alluded  to,  and  if  this  be 
true,  that  would  ])rovc  a  good  place  for  collecting  the  eggs.  The  falls  do  not  seem 
to  offer  an  impassable  barrier,  as  salmon  are  reported  from  points  still  farther  up  the 
stream. 

CASCADE    LOCKS. 

On  the  Washington  side  of  the  Columbia  Kiver,  opposite  Cascade  Locks  and  at 
tlie  head  of  what  is  known  as  the  "Old  Incline''  at  the  Upper  Cascades,  ia  a  place 
where  it  was  thought  fish  cultural  operations  might  be  carried  on  successfully.  The 
fish  would  have  to  be  caught  in  wheels,  several  of  which  are  operated  in  the  vicinity, 
and  held  until  ripe  iu  a  retaining  channel  or  pond.  This  channel  has  sufficient  water 
llowing  through  it,  cfin  be  easily  racked  at  each  end,  and  seems  in  every  way  fairly 
well  suited  for  such  a  purpose.  There  is  a  good  site  for  the  buildings  and  suflicient 
water  is  obtainable  by  gravity  from  a  small  (ireek  near  by.  It  is  claimed  that  an 
abundance  of  salmon  can  l)e  obtained  by  running  the  wheids  in  August  and  Septem- 
ber and  that  they  will '  e  so  nearly  ripe  that  retention  in  the  pond  or  channel  will  be 
necessary  for  only  a  short  time. 

An  effort  was  made  in  August  to  transport  fish  caught  in  these  wheels  to  the 
retaining  |»()iid,  but  it  proved  a  failure.  Whether  due  to  lack  of  care  and  skill  in 
making  the  transfer,  or  to  inherent  difficulties,  is  not  certain,  but  we  believe  tiiere  is  no 
jfood  reason  why  salmon  may  not  be  safely  transferred  fit  this  place.  We  question, 
liowever,  whether  they  would  live  in  the  retaining  pond  until  ripe,  unless  the  pond  be 
rather  deep  and  kept  dark. 


28 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES  FISH   COMMISSION. 


OBLILO. 

Mr.  A.  B,  Alexander  was  directed  by  the  Commissioner  to  visit  Celilo,  Oreg.,  for 
the  purpose  of  wiitcliing  the  daily  catch  of  fish  taken  there  in  wheels.  He  arrived 
there  September  17  and  remained  till  September  23.  His  report  is  in  substance  as 
follows : 

Only  one  wheel  was  in  operation  September  17.  Two  others  close  by  were  not 
running,  owing  to  low  water.  It  was  expected  to  pack  4,000  cases,  but  by  September 
2.'i  less  than  1,000  cases  had  been  packed.  The  fall  run  of  salmon  was  very  light  in 
nearly  all  i)arts  of  the  river.  The  accompanying  table  will  show  the  daily  catch  for 
one  wheel,  with  their  condition,  etc. : 


Sfj^nllifuil. 

Chinook  (111!  ciiiiglit 

Silver 

(nil 

caiiglit 

in  wlieel). 

Id 

wlieci). 

(B 

i 

i 

i 

« 

t 

s 

4 

■a 

V 

^ 

^ 

0. 

V 

? 

K 

■a 

u 

Date. 

•c 

i 

>t 

« 

3 

■a 

■c 

g 

ki 

"3 

'u 

§ 

i^ 

1 

•3 

c 

£ 
a 

a 

S2< 

t-. 

S 

a 
1 

•s 
1 

! 

a 

1 

■a 
1 

.a 

s 

1 

s. 
s 

r 

! 

a 
'1 

4 

U 

1 

p 

r. 

Oi 

□ 

a 

•s 
■s 

H 

a 

(<-■ 

9 
U 

1 

•ii 

1 

I 
i 

1896. 

1 

S«|it.  IS 

2n5 

111 

10 

124 

15 

160 

75 

28 

19 

10 

a 

9 

6  '    6 

2 

1 

0 

HI 

240 

i:to 

28 

110 

22 

180 

60 

18 

8 

5 

10 

6 

8       6 

4 

2 

1 

21 

487 

121 

29 

366 

08 

102 

205 

5» 

18 

11 

;i5 

26 

22  '     9 

i:t 

8 

22 
Total. 

550 

159 

59 

;I91 

164 

■.m 

20(1 

20 

12 

8 

8 

6 

19     11 

8 

8 

6 

1,512 

521 

126 

001  .    209 

882 

6;io 

110 

57 

U4 

62 

47 

55    ai 

1 

21 

24 

15 

Among  the  119  chinooks,  13  were  small  males,  with  their  milt  as  fully  developed  as 
that  of  the  large  fish.  The  wheels  sometimes  take  these  fish  in  considerable  numbers. 
Tiie  Indians  i)rize  them  highly  and  seldom  offer  one  for  sale.  Those  examined  were 
quite  uniform  in  size,  few  weighing  over  4^  jiounds,  the  minimum  being  about  3 
pounds.  In  length  they  vary  from  12^  to  23  inches.  Their  color  is  very  dark,  the  spots 
not  being  visible  a  distance  of  10  feet.  On  closer  inspection  all  the  mari  "  a  large 
Chinook  are  visible.  Fishermen  usually  do  not  class  this  lish  with  the  cliiuook,  but 
think  it  a  difl'erent  species. 

The  chinooks  taken  in  the  fall  of  1896  at  Celilo  were  said  to  be  somewhat  larger 
than  those  for  several  years  past,  tiie  average  weight  being  20  i»onnds ;  average  length, 
37  inches;  greatest  length,  43  inches.  The  average  was  about  1  pound  larger  than  the 
usual  fall  run,  and  1  pound  less  than  the  spring  fish. 

The  steelhead  varied  in  length  from  25  to  42  inches,  the  average  weight  of  those 
taken  at  Celilo  being  18  pounds.  A  few  weighed  from  35  to  37  iiounds.  On  first 
coming  from  the  water  the  steelhead  is  very  bright  colored,  the  large  specimens 
having  a  briglit  stripe  extending  along  the  sides  the  whole  length  of  the  body,  vary- 
ing from  a  light  pink  to  a  deep  bronze.  The  colors  are  very  ])ronouuced  when  the  lisii 
is  first  (laught,  but  grow  dim  on  being  exposed  to  the  air. 

Silver  salmon  are  Croiii  18  to  30  inches  long;  their  average  weight  is  7  pounds. 

Early  in  the  fall  Seul'ert  liros.  operated  three  wheols,  but  two  of  them  could  not 
be  run  after  the  '.'ver  had  fallen.  Mr.  Tafle's  wlieel  was  adapted  to  low  water.  An 
island  lying  between  Celilo  and  Tumwater  is  exposed  when  the  river  is  low,  the 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN    IN    1896. 


29 


Oreg.,  for 
e  arrived 
stauce  as 

were  noi 

leptember 

ligbt  ill 

catch  foi- 


ls 


i'eloped  as 
)  numbers, 
lined  were 
?  about  li 
,  the  spots 
"  a  large 
iiiook,  but 

liat  larger 
e:e  length. 
r  than  the 

t  of  those 
On  first 
ipeciinens 
>dy,  vary- 
n  the  lisli 

ounds. 
'ould  not 
iter.    An 
low,  the 


water  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  tiowing  over  a  rocky  ridge  forming  falls  some  12 
or  15  feet  high.  Many  salmon  find  their  way  to  the  foot  of  the  falls  and  endeavor  to 
ascend  them  and  when  the  water  is  about  half  low  many  succeed,  but  when  the  dis- 
tance from  the  lower  to  the  upper  current  of  Avater  is  from  8  to  10  feet  thousands  of 
salmon  at  times  may  be  seen  jumping  into  the  whirlpools  at  the  foot  of  the  falls. 
Just  above  the  falls  are  two  wheels,  the  larger  on  a  rocky  point  projecting  into  the  river. 
When  the  river  is  high,  many  of  the  salmon  pass  by  this  j)oiiit  over  that  part  of  the 
river  where  the  falls  are  during  low  water.  The  wheel  here  catches  fish  only  when  the 
water  is  high ;  the  other  wheel,  at  the  head  of  a  channel,  takes  fish  when  the  water  is  low. 

The  wheels  in  operation  during  the  fall  months  are  built  in  places  where  the  water 
is  deep  and  the  current  swift.  There  being  few  natural  places  in  the  vi(;inity  where 
wheels  can  be  successfully  operated,  long  deep  channels  have  been  cut  through  the 
volcanic  rock  and  the  water  led  into  them.  At  or  near  the  head  of  these  artificial 
channels  the  wheels  are  built.  The  water  ruslies  through  the  channels  with  consid- 
erable force,  ottering  a  strong  inducement  for  salmon  to  enter.  On  arriving  at  the 
foot  of  the  falls  and  finding  it  impossible  to  go  farther  salmon  naturally  enter  the 
channel  which  leads  to  the  wheel.  If  the  water  is  very  clear,  the  fish  will  congregate 
ill  large  numbers  in  pools  and  eddies  near  the  mouth  of  tlie  channel  and  at  the  foot 
of  the  falls,  remaining  there  for  days  without  attempting  to  go  up  the  channel. 
Sometimes  several  thousand  fish  will  crowd  themselves  into  the  mouth  of  the  narrow 
channel  and  remain  there  for  hours  at  a  time.  Suddenly,  as  if  by  one  impulse,  they 
will  dart  up  channel,  and  are  soon  caught  up  by  the  revolving  wheel  and  landed  on 
the  platform  in  the  fish-house. 

Wheels  are  built  in  places  near  higli-water  mark  where  salmon  are  known  to  run 
ill  greatest  numbers.  The  migratory  habits  of  all  species  of  salmon  visiting  the. 
Columbia  Itiver  in  the  vicinity  of  The  Dalles  are  said  to  vary  from  year  to  year. 
This  often  causes  a  considerable  expenditure  of  money  in  wheels  frequently  followed 
by  negative  results.  For  sevei'al  j'ears  the  main  run  of  salmon  may  pass  certain 
l>oints  in  the  river,  when  suddenly  a  new  route  will  be  selected.  This  <!hange  often 
transfers  the  best  tishing-ground  from  one  side  of  the  river  to  the  other,  and  wheels 
which  have  made  large  catches  one  season  prove  a  failure  the  next.  Only  those  with 
long  experience  in  this  locality  are  competent  to  select  good  sites  for  wheels.  Several 
wheels  on  the  river,  built  at  a  cost  of  from  $3,000  to  $5,000,  have  never  taken  a  fish. 
This  method  of  fishing  requires  considerable  capital. 

On  September  18  and  19  a  large  number  of  fish,  mostly  steelheads,  were  noticed 
to  ascend  the  falls,  but,  as  the  river  was  falling  rapidly,  in  a  short  time  they  were 
prevented  from  taking  their  natural  course  and  were  forced  either  to  enter  the  channel 
or  remain  in  the  pools  or  eddies  at  the  foot  of  the  falls  A_t  this  time  the  wheel  at 
Celilo  began  to  take  more  fish  than  it  previously  had,  the  daily  catch  increasing 
during  the  time  Mr.  Alexander  was  there.  The  catch  of  chiiiook  and  silver  salmon 
was  small  as  compared  with  the  number  of  steelheads.  The  last-mentioned  species 
is  always  found  in  greater  numbers  at  this  season,  the  fall  run  of  chiiiook  being 
limited  in  number.    Only  a  few  silver  salmon  aie  caught  here. 

This  season,  owing  to  the  unusual  scarcity  of  fish  at  Celilo,  the  cannery  there  did 
not  put  up  any  spring  fish,  the  run  being  very  small.  The  great  bulk  of  salmon  was 
taken  in  wheels  below  tlie  Cascades.  Arriving  at  this  point,  they  seemed  inclined  to 
go  uo  farther  up,  and  the  canneries  in  that  locality  made  large  packs.    Fish  expected 


30 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


at  The  Dalles  in  tbe  spring  did  not  appear  until  about  the  dose  season.  A  large  body 
of  steelheads  passed  up  the  river  during  that  time.  Ordinarily  the  run  of  steeUieads 
arrives  at  The  Dalles  early  in  September,  but  this  year  most  of  the  run  passed  by 
during  the  close  of  the  season. 

On  September  18  the  wheel  at  Celilo  took  100  steelheads,  28  chinook,  and  0  silver 
salmon,  and  75  steelheads  wore  taken  by  Indians  with  spears  and  dip  nets.  Of  tlic 
steelheads.  111  were  males  and  124  females;  10  males  and  15  females  were  in  iiii 
advanced  stage  of  development,  and  would  have  been  ripe  in  a  comi)aratively  short 
time;  the  rest  of  the  catch  would  not  haxe  been  ripe  until  late  in  the  season.  Of  tlic 
chinooks,  19  were  males  and  !)  females;  10  males  and  all  of  the  females  would  have 
been  ripe  by  about  the  first  week  in  October. 

During  the  five  days  spent  i.^  Celilo  1,512  steelheads,  119  chinook,  and  55  silver 
salmon  were  examined.  Of  the  steelheads,  991  were  females  and  521  males;  291» 
females  and  126  males  showed  considerable  signs  of  development,  and  would  have 
been  fully  ripe  by  the  first  week  in  October. 

As  the  river  falls  many  places  are  left  bare  wheresalmon  were  caught  earlier  in  the 
season.  Sharp  rocks  are  exposed,  small  peninsulas  formed,  and  rocky  islands  appear 
where  a  few  months  before  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  theii- presence  except  an 
occasional  small  whirlpool  or  ritilte.  At  such  places  Indians  fish  with  spear  or  dip  nel. 
Each  fall  several  tribes  from  various  parts  of  the  State  camp  at  Celilo  and  Tuin  water, 
remaining  there  until  the  season  is  over.  They  (i«h  for  the  canneries  principally,  but 
also  lay  in  a  supply  of  salmon  for  themselves.  In  j)leasant  weather  when  salmon  are 
plentiful  they  do  a  lucrative  business.  Sometimes  one  man  catches  .'55  salmon  in  a  day, 
Their  fishing  is  with  a  dip  net  and  detachable  gall'  hook  and  is  carried  on  in  swit'l 
water,  the  men  standing  on  overhanging  rocks  or  shelving  places  whc  e  a  foothold  can 
be  had.  This  is  dangerous  work,  and  not  a  few  lives  have  been  lost  from  time  to  time. 
When  the  wind  is  high,  one  of  (he  strong  gusts  that  freipiently  sweep  the  river  may 
suddenly  strike  a  fisherman  unprepared  to  receive  it  and  blow  him  into  the  river. 
Each  fisherman  who  stands  in  a  dangerous  place  therefore  has  a  rojte  fastened  around 
his  Avaist  and  secured  to  a  rock. 

In  the  whirlpool  of  water  only  an  occasional  fish  can  be  seen  and  the  fisherman 
stands  and  dii)S  blindly.  Sometimes  a  hundred  dips  or  more  will  be  made  without  a 
fish  being  taken,  at  other  times  one  will  be  caught  at  almost  every  dij).  Where  the 
water  is  less  turbulent  salmon  are  taken  with  spears,  each  spearsman  having  his  par 
ticular  standing-place,  from  which  he  keeps  a  vigilant  watch,  few  salmon  escaping  that 
approach  within  throwing  distance. 

The  Indian  is  assisted  by  the  women  and  children  of  the  tribe,  who  gather  the 
fish  when  caught,  throwing  them  into  a  pile  on  the  rocks  and  rendering  such  other 
assistance  as  may  be  required.  As  soon  as  the  day's  fishing  is  over  the  Indian  leaves 
the  fish  to  be  taken  care  of  by  the  women,  and  they  are  taken  from  the  island  to  the 
mainland,  cUl  carried  in  baskets  over  a  steep,  rocky  path  to  the  cannery,  a  distance 
of  about  a  third  of  a  mile.  When  there  is  a  good  catch  many  trips  are  required  to  be 
made  to  the  cannery.  A  male  Indian  seldom  does  this  kind  of  work;  he  is  (juite 
willing  that  it  should  be  performed  by  tije  women,  and  raises  no  objection  when  youn^ 
girls  are  pressed  into  the  service  by  their  mothers.  Sometimes,  however,  small  boys 
lejid  assistance,  but  by  the  time  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  12  they  have  caught  the 
spirit  of  their  elders  and  refuse  to  do  woman's  work. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    RIVER    HASIN    IN    1896. 


31 


When  Haliiioii  arc  plentiful  an  Indian  can  earn  from  $5  to  $8  a  day.  The  price 
Viuies  from  year  to  year,  according,'  to  the  supply  and  demand  for  salmon  ])y  the  can- 
iiories.  This  season  2  cents  a  pound  was  the  standing  price  for  chinooks  and  steelheads. 
Indiana  consider  the  chinooks  superior  to  all  other  salmon,  and  it  is  only  when  plentifid 
tliat  they  are  sold  to  canneries.  No  part  of  this  lish  is  thrown  away;  the  ripe  eggs 
and  even  the  tail,  head,  and  fins  are  eaten. 

The  dwarf  chinooks,  previously  spoken  of,  not  being  used  by  canneries,  are  greatly 
sought  after  by  the  women  of  the  tribes,  who  scpiat  on  the  lloor  of  the  room  where  tlie 
lisli  are  dressed,  patiently  waiting  for  the  small  lish  to  bo  culled  out.  They  sit  for 
hours  shivering  in  the  cold,  and  consider  themselves  well  paid  if  each  receives  one 
or  two  fish.  During  the  fishing  season  the  women  and  children  congregate  in  the 
dressing  room,  waiting  for  a  share  of  the  heads,  tails,  and  fins  as  they  fall  from 
the  butcher's  knife. 

The  ripe  eggs  of  chinook  salmon  are  considered  a  great  delicacy  and  are  gathered 
in  large  (luantities.  They  are  first  separated  and  then  dried  in  the  sun,  after  Avhich 
they  are  prepared  in  various  ways  as  food. 

Steelheads  swim  near  the  surface  and  are  more  easily  caught  than  the  chinooks, 
which  swim  deep.  Clear  water  influences  the  catch ;  if  the  water  be  clear  the  catch  is 
less  than  when  it  is  muddy. 

From  September  25  to  the  13th  of  October  2,607  steelheads,  1,402  chinooks,  and 
2,213  silver  salmon  were  examined  at  Celilo;  1,010  of  the  steelheads  were  males  and 
1,0.17  females;  683  of  the  chinooks  were  males  and  71!)  females;  of  the  silver  salmon, 
1,011  were  nmles  and  1,202  females;  350  male  steelheads  and  r>()l  females  were  in  an 
advanced  stage  of  ripeness;  also  574  male  and  528  female  chinooks,  and  843  male  and 
1,048  female  silver  salmon. 

The  eggs  and  milt  of  the  salmon  caught  during  October  were  somewhat  further 
advanced  than  that  of  those  examined  in  Septen'ber  at  Celih).  A  large  part  of  the 
ejjgs  of  the  chinook  on  being  taken  from  the  fish  Avould  immediately  separate;  this  was 
also  true  of  many  of  the  silver  salmon  and  steelheads.  A  number  of  the  latter  showed 
no  signs  of  development,  but  many  were  well  advanced  and  some  about  ready  to  spawn. 
It  would  seem  that  the  spawning  season  of  the  steelhead  extends  over  a  greater  period 
of  time  than  that  of  other  species.  A  careful  examination  carried  on  in  other  streams 
would  no  doubt  throw  more  light  on  the  subject. 

In  the  fall,  after  the  close  season,  a  seining  "  gang"  of  twelve  to  fifteen  men  goes 
into  camp  on  a  long  pebbly  beach,  about  a  mile  below  the  fishing  station  at  Tumwater. 
This  season  two  seines  were  operated  t)n  the  Oregon  side  of  the  river  and  one  on  the 
Washington  side.  At  times  fish  will  be  found  plentiful  on  one  side  of  the  river  and  few 
on  the  other,  when  suddenly,  without  apparent  cause,  they  shift  to  the  opposite  side. 

During  the  fishing  season  seining  is  carried  on  with  little  or  no  interruption,  hauls 
being  made  in  (juick  succession  all  through  the  day.  The  seines  are  set  from  a  flat- 
bottom  boat,  one  end  of  the  seine  rope  being  held  on  shore  by  horses  while  the  net  is 
iteing  thrown  out.  As  80(mi  as  the  net  is  set  the  seine  rope  on  the  lower  end  is  i)icked 
np  by  other  horses  and  the  hauling-in  crmmences.  It  would  be  impossible  to  land  the 
net  by  hand,  so  swift  is  the  current,  and  freqtiently  the  united  sfiength  of  fimr  horses 
is  barely  able  to  land  it.  At  each  haul  the  fish  caught  are  loaded  into  wagons  and 
taken  to  the  fishing  station,  where  they  are  weighed,  washed,  and  put  into  cars.  If 
tliey  are  to  be  canned  they  are  thrown  into  the  car  in  bulk;  if  shipped  east,  they  are 


32 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


packed  in  boxes  and  iced.  In  the  early  part  of  tlie  fall  season  the  demand  for  frcsli 
steellieads  is  large,  and  there  is  more  profit  in  shipping  tisli  oast  than  in  canning  tiuin. 
Tlie  only  place  noticed  near  Tumwater  where  salmon  could  be  held  for  spawniiii; 
purposes  is  near  the  seining-ground  on  the  Washington  side  of  the  river.  Here  a 
cnannel  has  been  cut,  but  owing  to  tlio  small  number  of  fish  that  entered  it  the  wliccl 
built  near  its  head  and  also  the  channel  have  for  several  years  been  abandoned.  ( hi 
the  lower  end  of  the  channel  is  a  small  indentation  where  an  eddy  is  formed;  a  diiiii 
could  be  built  here  and  also  om  across  the  mouth  of  the  u])per  end  of  tlie  chaniitl, 
with  iron  screens  at  eitlier  end.  Hy  covering  the  top  of  the  channel,  either  the  wlidlu 
or  a  part  of  it,  an  inclosure  would  be  formed  which  would  hold  a  large  number  ol 
salmon.  It  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  salmon  would  live  much  longer  in  tin 
inclosure  of  this  kind  than  in  boxes,  as  they  would  be  crowded  far  less  and  have  a 
better  circulation  of  water.  A  swift  current  or  comjiaratively  still  water  could  be  liiid 
by  putting  in  a  gate  at  the  upper  end  of  the  (;hannel.  Tlie  cost  would  be  considerably 
more  tlian  keeping  salmon  alive  in  cars  or  boxes,  but  it  is  thought  that  the  results 
would  be  more  satisfactory. 

KEUFEUT'S   TITMWATEU. 

On  the  Washington  side  of  the  river,  opposite  Seufert  Brothers'  cannery,  is  an 
excellent  seining-ground,  where  salmon  are  said  to  bo  caught  in  large  numbers. 
Within  a  few  rods  is  a  narrow  clianiiel  of  the  river  suitable  in  every  way  for  a  retain- 
ing pond.  The  hatchery  building  could  be  placed  upon  ground  quite  close  to  the 
retaining  channel  and  where  a  supply  of  suitable  water  can  be  led  by  gravity.  Sci'iinj,' 
is  carried  on  principally  for  silver  salmon  and  steellieads;  many  chinooks  are  rlso 
caught,  but  they  are  so  near  the  spawning  condition  that  they  are  not  used  lor  cim- 
niiig.  The  probabilities  that  lisli  could  be  secured  here  and  retained  for  a  short  time 
until  ripe  are  greater  than  at  the  Cascades,  and  the  expense  would  be  very  slight. 

JOHN  DAY   IIIVEK. 

This  river  was  examined  at  its  mouth  September  2.  It  is  there  a  stream  of 
moderate  size,  quite  shallow,  and  very  muddy.  The  banks  and  bottom  for  some 
distance  above  the  mouth  are  of  mud  or  sand.  Farther  upstream  the  water  is,  of 
course,  much  clearer.  Salmon  could  doubtless  ascend  the  John  Day  Kiver,  but  it 
is  not  certain  that  they  do  so  in  any  numbers,  and  none  was  observed.  Interviews 
with  persons  living  on  or  familiar  with  the  upper  course  of  the  stream  failed  to  elicit 
any  evidence  that  chinook  salmon  are  now  found  there.  It  is  said  th,at  a  good  many 
salmon  formerly  entered  this  river  and  spawned  in  the  spring,  but  these  are  evidently 
steelheads  and  not  chinooks.  A  few  years  ago  a  wheel  was  o])crated  in  the  mouth  of 
the  John  Day,  but  it  has  not  been  run  for  two  or  three  years. 

DES   OHUTE.S   BIVEK. 

The  Des  Chutes  liiver  has  its  source  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Cascade 
Mountains  and  elsewhere  in  Crook  County,  Oregon,  liows  neaily  north  and  joins  the 
Columbia  about  midway  between  the  mouth  of  the  John  Day  lliver  and  The  Dalles. 
It  has  been  generally  regarded  as  the  best  salmon-spawning  stream  in  the  lower 
Columbia  basin,  and  it  was  reported  that  large  numbers  of  salmon  can  be  seen  at  any 
time  in  the  fall  in  this  river  at  Sherar's  Bridge,  30  miles  from  The  Dalles  or  about  10 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  river.  This  jilace  was  therefore  visited  from  August 
29  until  September  1. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN    IN    1896. 


33 


Throupbont  flie  lower  portion  of  its  course  this  river  baa  cut  a  narrow,  deep 
channel  in  tlie  lava  beds,  Tbo  canyon's  walls  are  so  abrupt  tbat  it  is  impossible  to 
reacb  the  river  in  many  places.  At  Sberar's  Bridge  tbe  canyon  widens  out  a  little  and 
tlie  river  here  bas  a  fall  of  8  or  10  feet.  Uelow  the  falls  tbe  river  is  compressed  into 
ii  very  narrow  gorge,  through  which  the  water  rushes  with  much  fury.  At  the  bridge 
the  water  is  said  to  be  86  feet  deep,  which  is  about  equal  to  the  river's  width  at  tliiit 
point.  Immediately  above  the  falls  tbe  river  widens  out  greatly  and  is  very  shallow 
tor  some  distance. 

Until  within  the  last  six  or  eight  years  "salmon"  were  seen  here  every  spring  in 
considerable  numbers.  Mr.  J.  H.  Sherar,  who  has  lived  at  these  falls  for  many  years, 
says  "  salmon  trout"  were  present  throughout  tbe  year,  but  were  not  abundant  except 
ill  tlie  spring,  and  tbat  they  spawned  in  tiie  spring;  they  had  no  difliculty  in  ascending 
the  falls,  and  his  understanding  has  always  been  that  many  of  them  went  far  toward 
the  headwaters  to  spawn.  Formerly  Mr.  Sherar  caiight  large  numbers  of  these 
salmon  trout,  but  he  has  seen  but  very  few  for  four  or  five  years. 

Several  jjcrsons  who  live  on  tbe  u])per  course  of  the  Des  Chutes,  report  that  for- 
merly a  good  many  "salmon  trout"  were  seen  t'  <'re  in  the  spring,  which  was  tlieir 
spawning  time,  but  that  few  if  any  have  been  noticed  for  several  years.  It  would 
appear  tbat  the  chinook  salmon  has  never  run  into  tbe  Des  Chutes  in  large  numbers 
and  tbat  few  enter  it  now;  tbat  tbe  rtsli  which  at  one  time  was  rather  abundant 
is  the  salmon  trout  or  steelbead,  (S'a/mo  gainlneri.  The  spawning-beds  in  this  river 
are  too  remote  from  the  railroad  to  be  available  for  fish-cultural  operations. 

IIOOI)  RIVEK. 

This  stream  is  fed  chiefly  by  (be  snows  and  glaciers  of  Mount  Hood  and  flows  into 
tlie  Columbia  at  Hood  River  Station.  It  does  not  appear  to  ever  have  been  freiiuented 
by  chinook  salmon  in  large  numbers.  The  people  at  Hood  River  Station  do  not  think 
tliat  many  salmon  enter  this  river,  and  persons  living  several  miles  up  the  river  say  tbat 
salmon  are  seen  there  but  rarely. 

BIG  WHITE   SALMON  RIVER. 

This  river  was  examined  August  6,  and  again  on  September  4.  It  is  a  stream  of 
considerable  size,  having  its  sources  on  the  western  and  southern  slopes  of  Mount 
Adams.  It  flows  in  a  general  southerly  course  and  em])ties  into  tbe  Columbia  nearly 
o])posite  Ilood  River  Station.  It  is,  in  its  lower  course  at  least,  a  rough,  turbulent 
stream,  full  of  rapids  and  large  bowlders,  and  flowing  between  high,  and,  in  some  places, 
precipitous,  banks,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  reach  the  edge  of  the  stream.  At  the 
mouth  of  the  river  tbe  canyon  widens  out  and  there  is  a  little  level  land  along  the 
stream.  In  August  all  of  this  was  flooded  by  back  water  from  the  Columbia,  but  in 
September  it  was  dry.  No  salmon  were  seen  on  our  first  visit,  but  on  September  4 
quite  a  number  were  observed  jumping  in  tbe  Columbia  about  tbe  mouth  of  tbe  tribu- 
tary stream.  On  that  date  Indians  bad  established  two  camps  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  for  the  purpose  of  taking  salmon  during  the  season.  They  go  up  the  stream  from 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  capture  the  salmon  by  meau»  of  gaff-hooks  on  the 
ends  of  long  poles.  Only  four  salmon  were  taken  during  an  afternoon.  While  the 
conditions  are  not  favorable  for  operating  a  hatchery  on  this  river,  a  good  many  eggs 
could  probjibly  be  obtained  and  carried  to  any  station  which  may  be  established  on 
tlie  lower  Columbia. 

F.  C.  B.  1897—3 


34 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


LITTLE  WHITE  SALMON  EIVEK. 

This  stream  enters  tlie  Columbia  about  0  or  8  miles  below  the  month  of  HigWliitc 
Salmon  River.  It  was  examined  September  C  and  7,  and  the  prospects  for  successliil 
salmou-cultural  operations  appeared  so  good  that  a  site  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  was 
selected  and  preparations  begun  at  once  for  equipping  tlie  station.  Salmon  Mere 
already  in  the  stream  in  large  numbers  and  spawning  had  begun.  By  the  time  tlie 
station  was  ready  to  begin  operations  the  height  of  the  spawning  season  had  arrivcil, 
but  more  than  2,0()0,0()()  eggs  were  taken,  and  it  is  believed  by  Mr.  William  P.  SaiuT 
hoff,  superintendent  of  the  station,  that  10,000,000  eggs  could  have  been  obtained  if 
operations  had  begun  earlier  in  the  season.  The  success  attending  the  operation  of 
thisstationis  highly  gratifying.  Up  tothe  time  of  writing  these  lines  (October .30,  IS'iT) 
the  total  number  of  eggs  taken  at  the  Little  White  Salmuu  Station  this  season  is  over 
12,500,000. 

TANNEU  AND  EACiLE   CHEEKS. 

These  are  two  small  streams  flowing  into  the  Columbia  at  Bonneville,  Oregon.  Tin- 
smaller  is  Tanner  Creek,  whose  mouth  is  only  a  few  rods  west  of  the  railroad  station, 
It  was  examined  September  7  by  Messrs.  Evermann  and  Hubbard,  who  found  about 
300  Chinook  salmon  in  the  stream  within  a  mile  of  its  mouth.  Most  of  the  fish  were 
lying  quietly  in  deep  holes,  but  some  were  in  shallow  water  and  evidently  spawninj;. 

The  mouth  of  Eagle  Creek  is  about  half  a  mile  east  of  Bonneville.  This  stream  is 
considerably  larger  than.  TannertCreek.  Its  bed  is  exceedingly  rough  and  rocky,  and 
only  with  much  difliculty  can  salmon  ascend  it.  A  large  bunch  of  salmon  were  lyiii;; 
in  the  deep  hole  under  the  railroad  bridge  and  a  few  others  were  seen  a  short  distance 
farther  up  the  creek.  Though  these  creeks  are  small,  from  1,000,000  to  2,000,000  ejjgs 
could  probably  be  taken  there  annually  and  carried  to  the  Little  White  Salmon 
Station. 

Across  the  river  from  Bonneville,  and  only  a  short  distance  below  Little  White 
Salmon  Kiver,  are  several  streams  into  which  salmon  are  said  to  run.  Among  these 
are  Little  Wind  River,  Wind  River,  Smith  Creek,  Rock  Creek,  Hamilton  Creek,  anil 
Hardy  Creek.  Some  of  these  are  unsuitable  for  salmon  on  account  of  large  quantities 
of  wood  which  are  floated  down,  and  bars  sometimes  form  across  the  mouths  of  others, 
especially  Hamilton  and  Hardy  creeks,  so  that  salmon  are  'lot  able  to  enter;  but 
usually  a  good  many  salmon  spawn  in  these  creeks,  and  doubtless  a  great  many  ej;f;s 
could  be  collected  from-  them.  Their  proximity  to  the  Little  White  Salmon  will  make 
it  easy  to  carry  the  eggs  to  that  station. 


PUGET  SOUND. 

In  connection  with  the  work  of  the  Joint  commission  appointed  to  investigate 
the  fisheries  of  the  contiguous  waters  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  certain 
investigations  were  made  by  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Cox  concerning  the  movements 
of  the  sockeye  or  blueback  salmon  in  Puget  Sound  and  its  tributary  streams.  Tlie 
information  obtained  has  been  furnished  to  the  joint  commission  and  has  been  used 
in  its  report.  The  movements  of  the  sockeye  in  the  north  end  of  the  sound  were 
studied,  particularly  among  the  San  Juan  Islands,  chiefly  to  determine  whether  many 
of  that  species  run  into  streams  flowing  into  the  sound  from  the  State  of  W'ashiugtou. 


SALMON   INVR8TIOATION8   IN    COLUMBIA    RIVER    HA8IN   IN    1896. 


35 


The  priiicipal  rivers  exiunitied  were  tlie  Nooksack,  Skagit,  Stillaiiualinish,  and 
SiiolioniiHh.  The  time  was  too  Hliort  to  permit  an  exliaiistive  study  of  the  questions 
involved,  hut  enonjjh  was  done  to  siiow  that  most  of  the  rivers  liowing  into  Paget 
Sound  from  tlie  east  are  sahnoii  streams  of  considerable  importance.  This  is  particu- 
larly true  of  the  Skiigit.  The  sockeyo  runs  into  this  river  in  large  numbers,  and  there 
lire  important  8i»a\vning-beds  of  this  species  in  its  headwaters.  The  State  of  Wash- 
ington has  recently  established,  and  is  now  successfully  operating,  a  hatcliery  for  this 
species  on  l?aker  Lake,  one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Skagit. 

The  height  of  the  run  of  soekeye  salmon  in  1896  at  the  San  -Fuan  Islands  was 
from  August  L'O  to  28.  The  run  was  regarded  as  unusually  large  in  view  of  the  fact 
tliat  this  was  an  off  year.  Nothing  definite  was  learned  regarding  tlie  occurrence  of 
tlio  sockeye  in  any  streamt;  except  the  Skagit,  nor  whether  it  is  found  in  any  of  the 
upper  tributaries  of  the  Ska^'it  except  the  Baker.  The  Baker  lliver  has  a  lake  iu  its 
upper  course  which  (tan  bo  reaihed  by  the  sockeye. 

So  far  as  is  yet  known,  this  species  spawns  only  in  such  streams  as  have  lakes  at 
their  headwaters,  and  the  spawning-beds  are  found  only  in  the  streams  tributary  to 
the  lakes  or  in  the  lakes  themselves.  Several  streams  tributary  to  the  northern  part 
of  I'uget  Sound  contain  lakes  in  their  headwaters,  and  it  would  prove  interesting  and 
valuable  work  to  d«'terinine  accurately  the  distribation  of  the  sockeye  in  this  region. 

All  the  other  species  of  west  coast  salmon  are  found  here  in  large  numbers.  The 
ohinook  lirst  appear,  then  the  silver  salmon  and  steelhead,  and  still  later  the  humpback 
and  the  dog  salmons.  The  Nook  ack  is  the  principal  river  frequented  by  these  species. 
The  silver,  Immpback,  and  dog  salmons  are  said  to  ascend  both  forks  of  this  river. 

The  actual  or  even  relative  abundance  of  the  dift'erent  kinds  of  salmon  and  their 
distribution  in  the  rivers  of  western  Washington  is  not  well  understood,  and  scarcely 
anything  is  known  regarding  them  after  they  enter  the  rivers. 


LAKE   WASHINGTON. 

In  February,  1889,  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  planted  375,000  fry  of  the 
conuuou  whitefish  {Coreyonus  (inpei/ormin)  in  Lake  Washington  at  Seattle.  In  June, 
iJSOO,  Mr,  A.  B.  Alexander  visited  this  lake  and  began  a.  series  of  observations  for 
the  purpose  of  determining  the  results  of  this  planting  of  fish.  After  a  few  observa- 
tions he  was  called  away  to  other  work,  but  returned  and  again  took  up  the  inquiry 
November  2.'5,  continuing  it  to  January  10  following. 

General  description  of  Lttle  Wnahington. — This  lake  is  situated  in  King  County, 
Washington.  Its  greatest  length,  which  lies  nearly  due  north  and  south,  is  18J  miles, 
and  its  greatest  width,  from  Mercer  Slough  across  Mercer  Island  to  the  west  shore,  is 
about  4.^  miles.  The  greatest  width  of  open  water  is  about  half  a  mile  north  of  Mercer 
Island  and  is  3|  miles.  The  narrowest  channel  lies  between  Mercer  Island  and  a 
point  on  the  east  shore  about  %  of  a  mile  north  of  Mercer  Slough.  The  city  of  Seattle 
is  situated  upon  the  west  shore  about  equally  distant  from  the  north  and  south  ends 
of  the  lake.  There  are  numerous  bays  and  indentations,  which  give  the  lake  a  total 
sjiore-line  of  about  58  miles.  The  lake  has  an  elevation  of  34  feet  above  low  tide  at 
Seattle.  The  principal  outlet  is  Black  River,  at  the  extreme  southern  end  of  the  lake. 
This  river  is  2J  miles  long,  and  unites  with  White  Kiver  to  form  Duwamish  liiver, 
which  iiows  into  Elliott  or  Duwamish  Bay  a  short  distance  south  of  Seattle.  About 
a  half  mile  below  the  lake  Black  River  receives  the  Cedar  River  from  the  east. 


86 


BULLKTIN   OP   THK    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


A  fuw  yeiu'H  ago  iv  chaitiiol  wkh  i-iit  from  Union  liuy  tlirough  Lake  Union  Ut  tlit- 
Bound.  CoiiHiilerablo  water  Mows  through  this  rliannul  and  Hniail  l>oatH  are  able  in 
\ni»H  through  it. 

At  tlic  north  end  Lake  Washington  receives  Htiuak  8h)ugh,  whicli  is  the  outlet  of 
Lake  Haiuniainish.     Tliis  slough  runs  in   a  tortuous  channel  through  low,  lnar^)ly 
ground,  its  width  varying  according  to  the  height  of  water  in  the  lakes  which  it  con 
nects.     When  the  water  is  very  high  tlie  slougli  overtiows  and  <!overs  the  low  land  on 
either  side. 

During  heavy  rain  the  Duwainish  Kivor  is  unable  to  carry  off  readily  all  the 
water  brouglit  down  by  the  White,  Cedar,  and  other  streams,  and  as  a  result  Bhuk 
Kiver  becomes,  for  the  time  being,  an  inlet  insteati  of  an  outlet  of  Lake  Wiishington. 
The  lake  therefore  rises  perceptibly,  the  inHowing  water  from  Lake  Hamuiamish  is 
held  back,  and  Squak  Slough  overflows  the  adjacent  lowlands. 

Lake  Washington  is  a  beautiful  body  of  v  er,  surrounded  by  hitth  hills  frum 
which  a  flue  view  of  the  surrounding  country  i  be  had.  The  Cas«;ade  MountairiH 
are  i)lainly  seen  to  the  eastward  and  on  Uu  south  Mount  Hanier  comes  into 
conspicuous  view.  In  many  jtlaces  steep  banks  make  down  to  the  water's  e<'  c, 
iiulicating  deep  water.  Nearly  all  the  hills  are  covered  with  a  dense  growt.i  of 
trees,  except  where  clearings  have  been  made  for  homes  and  settlements.  The  siiore 
line  in  nearly  all  parts  is  fringed  with  a  dense  undergrowth  of  brush  and  snmll  t  ccs; 
tule  grass  is  found  at  every  low  point  and  slight  indentation.  Small  trees  along  tli)> 
shore  interfere  with  the  hauling  of  seines,  aiul  only  limiNid  collections  can  be  mwli-. 
In  November  and  December  a  large  amount  of  decayed  vegetation  covers  iKirtions  of  tin- 
shore,     in  summer  various  forms  of  minute  aninuil  and  plant  life  inliabit  the  water. 

Scinehnuling  groundn. — Only  in  a  few  ])laces  along  the  shore  of  the  entire  lake  is 
the  bottom  sufliciently  free  from  snags,  fallen  trees,  and  other  material  Ut  jiermit  tin- 
successful  hauling  of  nets.  On  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  about  -  miles  above  Unimi 
Bay,  is  a  long  stretch  of  sandy  shore  mixed  with  fine  gravel;  in  .lune,  1896,  several 
attempts  were  made  to  haul  a  seine  hero,  but  on  account  of  the  many  obstacles  no 
fish  were  taken.  On  the  east  side,  at  Hunter  Point,  is  a  comparatively  good  grouml, 
but  tule  grass  grows  in  considerable  (inantities,  though  by  wading  out  and  l>ending  it 
down  where  the  seine  is  to  be  landed  fairly  good  results  can  l)e  obtained.  Sevi'iiil 
hauls  were  made  here  and  a  number  of  fish  taken.  In  fall  and  winter  there  is  a 
great  scarcity  of  life  here,  as  several  trials  demonstrated.  From  Hunter  Point  south- 
ward for  about  2^  miles  the  shore  makes  down  to  the  lake  with  a  gradual  8loi)e,  but 
owing  to  the  great  amount  of  vegetation  that  extends  in  most  ))lace8  into  the  water,  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  use  a  seine.  This  also  nuiy  be  said  of  Mercer  Slougii  and  flie 
shore  farther  south.  On  the  east  side  of  Mercer  Island  the  bank  is  usually  quite  stecj); 
on  its  west  side  the  land  is  more  slo]>ing.  The  water  all  rountl  the  island  is  deep.  In 
the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  lake,  in  the  vicinity  of  Kenton  and  lilack  Kivcr, 
the  land  is  marshy  and  filled  with  small  sloughs.    The  bottom  is  of  soft  mud. 

On  the  north  and  west  sides  of  Lake  Washington,  from  Webster  Point  to  Sand 
Point,  are  scattering  sandy  patches,  but  only  in  a  few  jjlaces  can  a  seine  be  haaled, 
owing  to  a  thick  growth  of  scrubby  trees  at  the  water's  edge.  High  banks  in  most 
places  overhang  the  shore  line.  Northward  from  these  points  the  land  is  more  sloping' 
and  in  some  jtlaces  comparatively  level.  Rocky  and  gravel  bea^ihes  crop  out  from  tin' 
banks  in  many  jd^iees  and  in  a  number  of  indentations  the  water  makes  off  shallcNr 


■  I 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA    KIVEIi    HA8IN    IN    IH'.hl. 


37 


from  the  hIioh'  ii  distance  of  TtO  feet  or  more.  The  hottxini  here  Ih  v«'ry  muddy  and 
covered  with  tule.  The  Hhore  on  tliJH  Hide  of  the  lake  jh  thiekly  strewn  witli  1o>,'h, 
Hhiba,  and  Hmull  Moiitin^'  d<-briH.  Few  rocks  are  notieeable,  and  none  at  any  groat 
(Ustanee  from  Hhore. 

The  Handy  and  );ravully  beaeheH  referred  to  on  tlie  went  Hide  of  tiie  lake  below 
Hand  I'oint  arc  iiHually  narrow;  only  in  one  place  observed  is  the  beach  over  lU  feet 
wide;  here  the  width  from  the  water'n  edg'^  to  the  binlf  is  about  'M)  feet.  The  (!lear 
f!^round  indicaleH  a  Hinooth  bottom,  but  stumpH  of  trees  and  broken  limbs  ]irevent 
seine  collecting,'.  These  beaeiies  are  formed  iiy  wave,  action,  the  water  havinp^  washed 
away  the  bane  of  the  blutl's,  leaving  a  deposit  of  sand  and  gravel.  In  many  places, 
particularly  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  bushes  and  small  trees  have  taken  root  in  the 
sand  and  gravel  deposit.  Only  in  a  few  instances  does  the  sand  and  gravel  tbrmation 
exteinl  any  great  distance  below  the  water's  edge;  .'JO  or  40  feet  from  tlie  shore  is  soft 
muddy  bottom.  As  is  indicated  by  the  high  perpendicular  blutl's,  the  beaches  make  otV 
at  a  sharp  angle,  deep  water  being  found  a  Hhort  <listance  from  the  shore.  As  a 
whole,  the  shore  of  Lake  Washington  is  not  well  adapted  to  (lollt-cting  with  a  seine. 

lU'pth  and  vhanivUr  of  bottom. — Soundings  were  taken  at  ditl'erent  times  and  in 
various  parts  of  Lake  Washington.  It  has  a  unitbrm  depth  in  the  center,  ranging 
from  l.'J8  to  L'22  feet.  The  character  of  the  bottom  is  generally  muddy.  Of!"  the  mouth 
of  rnion  Bay  and  near  the  boathouse  at  Madison  street  sandy  bottom  was  found.  OIV 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Sand  Point,  3^  miles  farther  north,  the  bottom  is  comi)Osed  of 
sand  and  gravel.  This  kind  of  bottom  does  not  exttuid  very  far  from  the  shore,  from 
.jOO  to  800  feet  being  about  the  limit.  For  nearly  ti  miles  south  of  Hand  Point  there 
lire  a  number  of  sandy  places  along  the  shore,  mostly  covered  with  a:i  undergrowth 
»(  bushes.  In  all  other  [»arts  of  the  lake  examined  the  bottom  i.s  chieHy  of  soft  mud. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  .south  of  Hunt  Point,  the  water  is  quite  deep  close  to 
tiio  shore;  this  is  also  true  of  the  west  side,  south  of  Sand  Point,  and  in  many  other 
parts.  A  depth  of  from  r)00  to  1,800  feet  was  reported  ofl'the  northern  end  of  Mercer 
Island  ami  in  the  vicinity  of  Hunt  Point.  Comi»aratively  deep  water  was  found  of! 
these  ])oint8,  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  map,  but  no  such  depths  as  had  been 
reported.  About  1  mile  along  the  shore  above  Kirkland  a  plateau  from  00  to  100  feet 
wide,  covered  with  vegetation,  makes  off  from  the  shore.  The  water  varies  in  de[)t)i 
from  10  to  L'O  feet,  but  suddenly  deepens  into  CO  and  70  feet  when  the  edge  is  reached. 
Temperature  of  water. — It  will  be  noticed  in  the  table  of  temperatures  that  near 
the  shore  on  the  east  side  of  Mercer  Island  the  temperature  of  the  water  at  the  surface 
varies  considerably  from  that  taken  a  short  distance  toward  the  middle  of  the  channel. 
A  difference  of  2i'^  is  recorded,  the  bottom  temperature  in  both  soundings  being  the 
same.  In  no  other  part  of  the  lake  was  such  a  marked  difference  found.  Several 
tcstH  of  the  water  were  made  within  a  radius  of  100  feet  or  more,  all  with  the  same 
result.  A  few  hundred  ♦eet  from  this  jwsition,  to  the  north,  south,  or  east,  47°  was 
tound  at  the  surface.  It  is  said  that  thernnil  springs  f»ccur  in  this  vicinity  in  a 
number  of  places.  The  temi)erature  of  the  water  at  the  bottom,  however,  does  not 
indicate  their  presence.  The  lowest  temperature  found  in  the  main  body  of  the  lake 
was  44^0^  ami  the  highest  48^°;  the  first  in  depths  of  180  and  100  feet.  In  Union  Bay, 
in  14  feet  of  water,  a  tein|)erature  of  41°  was  recorded  both  at  the  surface  and  the 
Ixittom.  This  low  temperature  was  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  cold  weather,  which  at  this 
time  was  (juite  severe.     At  no  other  place  was  such  a  low  temperature  found. 


38 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    PISH    COMMISSION. 


The  temperature  of  the  air  seemed  to  have  no  perceptible  daily  effect  on  the 
water  in  deei)  portions  of  the  lake.  From  November  2.3  to  30  tlie  air  varied  but  little, 
from  20°  to  29°  being  about  the  minimum  and  maximum  height.  During  Decembci 
from  45°  to  48°  was  the  approximate  daily  temperature. 

In  depths  over  150  feet  the  air  ceasetl  to  have  an  effect  on  the  water  much  below 
40  feet  from  the  surface.  In  a  few  places  50  feet  below  the  surfoce  was  reached  before 
the  temperature  remained  constant.  In  depths  less  than  100  the  temperature  was 
found  constant  about  30  feet  below  the  surface. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  a  uuuiber  of  places  in  depths  ranging  from  40  to  o\er 
200  feet  the  temperature  botli  at  the  surface  and  bottom  is  the  same.  Why  this  shoukl 
be,  when  only  a  short  distance  away  the  difference  between  the  surface  and  bottom  is 
a  degree  or  more,  is  not  easily  explained. 

Many  of  the  temperatures  and  soundings  taken  are  recorded  in  the  following  table: 

Soundings  and  temperaturex  taken  in  Lake  Washiniiton. 


8^ 

£  • 

s^ 

£- 

dS 

sa 

1 

sa 

Pre. 

.= 

I'oHitiuii. 

Date. 

,a 

Position. 

P. 

a"  ■ 

s- 

5. 

a" 

a-s 

V 

C  e9 

a^  rt 

^ 

S>  A 

Z  d 

fi 

H 

H 

h" 

H 

Fett. 

OF. 

op. 

1 

Feet. 

OF. 

oy. 

Nov.  23 

35 

48i 

484 

300  feet  from    Bliore,   near 
MudiHoii-Htreel  boathotiHe. 

Dec.    19* 

50 

491 

46 

Close  to  shore  east  siile  of 
Mercer  lalaiid. 

24 

24 

14 
10 

45 
45 

44 
45 

Ill  variouH  parts  of  Union  : 

19 

58 

47 

46 

300  feet  from  shore    and 

Bay,  wliich  Ih  a  ]>art  of  ' 
Lake  Wasliititrton. 

19 

674 

47 

46 

near  last  sounding. 
Halfway    acniss    channel 

25 

98 

48 

48 

One- fourth  mile  east  of  boat- 
iioiiRe. 

between  Mercer  Island 
and  east  shore. 

25 

156 

48 

47 

One-fourth  mile  east  of  last 

19 

55 

47 

46 

Xear  the  east  side  of  lake. 

station. 

19 

12 

46 

45 

Close  to  shore. 

25 

162 

48 

47 

Middle  of  lake. 

20 

70 

46 

46 

Half  a  mile  north  of  last 

25 

150 

48 

47 

Two-tliirds  across  lake. 

sounding. 
One-eighth  mile  west  from 

25 

144 

48 

47 

Oneeightli  mile  from  cast 

20 

87 

46 

46 

side  of  lake. 

last  sounding. 

25 

72 

48 

48 

300  feet  from  Blioro. 

20 

1154 

46 

47 

Halfway  across  east  end 

27 

14 

41 

41 

In  I'nion  Bay ;  cold  weather, 
air  28^  and  30". 

Mercer  Island  to  east 
side  of  laki'. 

27 

98 

47 

U 

Off  mouth  Union  Hay. 

20 

174 

464 

40 

Halfway  bc't»  ^n  Daphne 
Point  and  iiort.  end  Mer- 

28 

150 

47 

47 

Do. 

28 

152 

47 

47 

Do. 

cer  Island. 

Dee.    1 

96 

47 

47 

Do. 

23 

204 

464 

454 

Half  a  mile  east  Webster 

1 

168 

47 

47 

14  mile  S.SE.  from  Srndisoii- 

Point. 

street  boathouse. 

23 

219 

464 

45i   Half  a    mile    north     last 

.1 

90 

47 

47 

li    mile  east  from  Yesler- 

i      sounding. 

street  boathouse. 

23 

201 

464 

45J   Halt  a  mile  northward  last 

1 

114 

47 

46 

Two-thirilsacross  lake  from 
pumiiiui;  station  to  Mer- 
cer Island. 

sounding,  J  mile  from 
shore. 

23 

66 

46 

46 

Third  of  mile  north   and 

1 

156 

47 

46 

One-half  milooff  waterworks. 

chwe  to  shore. 

18 

210 

4fli 

46 

One  mile  SB.  from  MadistJii- 
street  hoatlioiise. 

23 

,^4 

464 

464 

About  500  feet  from  Sand 
Point  south  near  shore. 

18 

204 

46 

46 

One-f(mrth  mile    SK.  frcmi 
Madison-street  Iiiuitliiiuse. 

L'3 

1U5 

47 

46 

About  200  leet  from  .Sand 
Point  NK. 

18 

218 

46i 

46 

1}  mile  SE.  from  Madison 
street  boathouse. 

23 

181 

464 

454 

Less  than  J  mile  NE.  from 
last  sounding 

18 

204 

«* 

46 

One-third  of  a  mile  S\V.  ol 
Daphne  Point. 

23 

168 

464 

45 

Less  than  4  mile  in  saiue 
direction. 

18 

150 

46 

46 

One-cightli  of  a  mile  S\V. 
of  Daphne  Point. 

23 

180 

464 

444 

About  the  same  distance 
farther  (m. 

18 

156 

46 

46 

One-third  mile  oil'  Meyden- 

hauer  Bay. 
Near   n>i''dle    of    Jleyden- 

33 

•  190 

4.14 

444 

Li'ss  than  i  mile  \K.  last 
station. a 

1» 

114 

46 

46 

23 

178 

464 

454 

Last    deep    sounding     on 

hatier  Hav 

this  lino. 

19 

69 

46 

46 

South  Hide  of  bay.     {Other 

23 

72 

46 

46 

Near  opposite  shore  from 
iSand  Point. 

soundings  taken  in  bay; 

■ 

same  t<'mi)erature,) 

23 

96 

46 

46 

About  1,5011  feet  from  shore. 

19 

jd 

174 

47 

Short    distance    south    of 
Mevdenhauer  Bay. 

23 

129 

46 

46 

About  halfway  from  last 
station  to  Kirkland. 

19 

40 

47 

47 

One-tliird      mile   '  farther 

soutli  near  shore. 

a  Skid  to  be  thermal  springs  fa  near  vicinity,  v/liteh  may  aecount  for  the  change  of  temperature. 


Bull.  U.  S.  F.  C.    "97.    (To  faco  page  38.) 


Plate  1. 


SEATTLE. 


avm-Bajf. 


Map  of  Lake  Washington,  Wash.,  show- 
ing soundings,  in  feet,  taken  by  the 
U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  in  November 
and  December,  i8g6. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN    IN  1896.  39 

During  the  winter  months  short  periods  of  cohl  weather  sweep  over  this  part  of 
the  Northwest,  hut  not  sulliciently  severe  for  ice  to  form  in  the  main  portion  of  Lake 
Washington,  Occasionally  skim  ice  appears  on  the  margin  of  the  lake  in  sheltered 
jylaces  covering  small  areas. 

Triah  with  (jUl  nets  and  other  apparatus. — On  November  23  the  first  trial  with 
gill  nets  for  whitefish  was  made  in  35  feet  of  water,  .'300  feet  from  the  shore,  at  a  point 
w  liere  it  is  said  that  an  example  of  this  species  had  been  taken.  Two  nets  were  set, 
and  remained  down  48  hours.  They  were  visited  on  three  different  occasions  during 
that  time,  but  no  fish  were  found  in  them.  The  reason  for  setting  nets  in  such 
sliallow  water  for  whitefish,  was  in  compliance  with  a  request  made  by  the  person  who 
claimed  to  have  caught  a  specimen  on  tiie  above-mentioned  grountl  in  the  fall  of  1892. 
It  was  taken  on  a  hook,  which  throws  considerable  doubt  as  to  its  being  the  true 
whitefish.    So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  no  other  specimen  has  since  been  seen. 

On  November  24  three  more  gill  nets  were  set  about  1|  miles  from  first  position 
oil  the  south  side  of  rnion  Bay.  Here  also  whitefish  had  been  reported.  Depth  of 
water,  15  feet;  temperature  of  water  at  bottom  and  at  surface,  45°;  bottom  muddy. 
Tlieae  nets  remained  in  the  water  three  days,  and  were  visited  each  morning.  No  fish 
were  found  in  them. 

On  November  26  three  nets  were  set  at  the  head  of  Union  Bay,  in  10  i'eet  of  water, 
dose  to  the  shore,  where  fish  are  said  to  be  plentiful  in  summer;  also  two  other  nets 
near  outlet  or  portage,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  fartlier  south.  In  this  place 
anglers  have  good  fisiiing,  and  it  was  thought  that  if  fish  were  running  in  any  consid- 
erable numbers  the  nets  would  be  likely  to  tnke  samples  of  di'd'erent  species.  The 
nets  set  at  the  head  of  the  bay  were  taken  up  the  following  morning,  nothing  being 
found  in  them.  Those  set  near  the  outlet  remained  down  two  days,  and  were  visited 
each  morning.  The  se(rond  morning  one  cut-throat  trout  and  one  chub  were  taken 
from  them.  During  the  time  the  nets  were  down  a  number  of  cut-throat  trout,  chub, 
and  suctkers  hiid  been  taken  on  hook  and  line.  Sounding  and  collecting  with  surface 
tow  net  had  also  been  carried  on  whenever  the  weather  permitted. 

On  November  27  three  gill  nets  were  set  near  the  bottom,  otf  the  mouth  of  ITnion 
Bay,  in  18  feet  of  water,  bottom  hard  sand,  where  they  remained  two  days.  Nothing 
was  found  in  them  when  taken  up.  It  is  reported  that  large  numbers  of  fish  pass  over 
tills  ground,  and  it  was  thou'ght  that  our  ettbrts  would  be  rewarded  by  a  few  specimens. 
The  result  of  this  trial  indicates  that  at  this  season  fish  do  not  move  in  great  numbers. 
Tiie  same  nets  were  set  in  06  feet  of  water  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  off  shore, 
wliere  the  bottom  temjierature  was  .'5°  warmer  than  at  last  station.  The  nets  were, 
as  before,  set  near  the  bottom,  but  without  result.  IJad  whitefish  or  other  species 
heen  traveling  over  this  ground  a  few  would  have  been  captured. 

A  small  creek  tliat  flows  into  the  head  or  western  jiart  of  ITiiiou  Bay  was  next 
investigated.  This  creek  is  said  to  abound  wiih  trout  in  summer  and  with  redfish  in 
early  fall.  The  water  in  the  upper  part  of  the  creek  flows  with  considerable  velocity 
over  a  gravelly  bottom.  It  is  from  1  to  5  feet  wide  in  most  places,  and  about  7  or  8 
inches  deep;  there  are  a  few  jiools  whose  depth  is  nearly  2  feet.  The  creek  is  largely 
fed  by  seepage  from  the  surrounding  hills.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  the  weather  was 
cold  and  the  ground  covered  with  snow,  and  in  many  jdaces  ice  had  formed.  The 
stream  empties  into  a  marshy  lagoon  where  it  finds  its  way,  through  several  smaller 
ones,  into  Union  Bay. 


40 


BULLETIN    OF    THE    UNITED   STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


Ecpeated  trials  with  a  small  collecting  seine  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  were  mado. 
but  nothing  was  taken  in  it.  Only  one  flsli,  thought  to  he  a  ledfish,  was  seen,  and  it 
escaped  under  a  fallen  tree.  Unsuccessful  hauls  were  also  made  from  a  half  to  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  upstream.  Hook-and-line  fishing  was  also  tried,  with  the  same 
result,  salmon  eggs  being  used  for  bait.  At  the  mouth  of  the  creek  a  salamander  was 
found,  and  this  was  the  only  form  of  life  seen,  except  the  supposed  redfish. 

On  December  11  gill  nets  were  set  in  a  number  of  places,  from  a  halftotliree 
quarters  of  a  mile  ai)art,  in  Squak  Hloughat  the  head  of  Lake  Washington,  in  !)  .and  Ki 
feetof  water.  Tiiey  were  visited  twice  in  48  hours,  nothing  being  found  in  them.  The 
bottom  tem])er{iture  in  the  plactes  where  they  were  set  was  44A°,  surface  454°.  Duriii;; 
tlie  entire  investigation  the  water  in  tiie  slough  was  unusually  high,  and  this  prob 
ablj'  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  scarcity  of  lisli  here,  for  at  such  times,  instead  of 
following  the  main  channel,  tish  would  naturally  scatter  over  a  large  area,  thereby 
greatly  lessening  the  chances  of  taking  them.  Troll  fishing  was  tried,  but  with  unsnt 
isfactory  results. 

Nearly  all  of  December  IcS  was  spent  in  scmiuling  and  taking  water  temperatures. 
In  the  afternoon  four  nets  were  set  on  tlie  north  side  of  Meydenbaner  Hay;  <lei)th,  KL' 
feet;  bottom  and  surface  temperature,  40°.  Nothing  being  in  tlie  nets  the  followiii}; 
morning  they  were  taken  up  and  set  on  the  north  side  of  Mercer  Slough,  nearly .'{ miles 
farther  down  the  lake.  A  trial  for  48  hours  resulted  in  the  capture  of  one  femide 
cutthroat  trout,  the  eggs  of  which  were  approaching  a  stat°  of  ripeness.  Two  otlier 
specimens  subsequently  taken  showed  the  same  .amount  of  development.  Sevenil 
creeks  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  were  investigated  but  no  fi8.»  were  found. 

Whitefinh. — There  is  no  satisfactory  evidence  of  wliiteflsh  ever  having  been  cau}:lit 
in  Lake  Washington,  though  several  persons  claim  to  have  seen  trsm.  One  person 
says  in  the  fall  of  18!>2  he  caught  a  specimen,  but  no  accurate  description  was  given 
as  to  its  shape  or  color,  and  Prof.  ().  B.  Johnson  and  State  Fish  Commissioner  James 
Crawford  doubt  whether  it  was  the  genuine  whitefish,  and  believe  that  the  whitelisli 
l>lanted  in  the  lake  no  longer  exist.  The  investigation  strengthens  this  oinniou.  Tlie 
Columbia  chub  (Mi/lockeUus  cauriuus)  is  a  common  species  in  the  lakes  of  this  region. 
r.nd  is  by  many  people  known  as  "whitefish."'  It  is  not  improbable  that  all  tlie 
so-called  "whitefish"  which  have  been  reported  from  Lake  Washington  were  rciilly 
this  species  of  minnow.  Williamson's  whitefish  {Voregonus  irilliamsovi)  doubtless 
occurs  here,  but  no  sjiecimens  were  seen. 

Other  finhes  of  Lake  Wdshiiif/toti. — Tlie  various  pj)ecies  of  fishes  collected  durinf; 
these  investigations,  as  well  as  all  other  species  known  to  occur  in  Lake  Washinglon, 
are  listed  in  another  part  of  this  report.  The  principal  si)ecies  are  the  cut-tlin  . 
trout,  Columbia  Hiver  chub,  squawflsh,  Columbia  River  sucker,  a  blob,  two  (.•  tliiee 
other  species  of  (Jyprinidtv^  and  the  redfish.  Salmon  are  said  to  enter  the  hike 
through  Bhuik  Kiver  early  in  the  fall,  but  none  was  seen.  T^iey  are  i)robably  tlu' 
large  form  of  the  redfish  or  sockeye  (Oncorhynchus  ntrka).  1  -•<ifish  are  said  to  run  up 
into  shallow  places  during  the  latter  part  of  Octoi)er  and  a  part  of  November,  biil 
repeated  trials  resulted  in  collecting  only  a  few  specimens.  Those  familiar  with  the 
different  runs  of  fish  on  the  lake  .ittribute  the  scarcity  of  redfish  this  season  to  hiuli 
water.  In  Sijuak  Slough,  where  they  are  said  to  run  in  great  numbers,  not  a  specimen 
was  seen  or  taken,  though  before  tiie  water  began  to  rise  in  the  slough  a  consideraMe 
body  of  these  fish  was  reported  as  passing  through.     lilacik  bass  are  occasionally 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    KIVER   BASIN    IN    189(5. 


41 


ere  made, 
en,  and  it 
to  tlirco 
the  saiiH' 
uider  V  IIS 

f  to  tlircc 
II  !)  and  li) 
lem.  The 
Duriiij; 
this  prol) 
instead  of 
a,  thereby 
'itli  unsiit 

peratures. 
depth,  KL' 
i'ollowiiij,' 
rly.'{  miles 
)ne  f'eniiiie 
Two  otiier 
Several 

!en  t'au};lit 
'ne  person 
was  given 
iner  James 
3  wliiteli-;li 
nion.  The 
his  regiiui. 
lat  all  the 
i'ere  really 
doubtless 

;ed  during 
ashingtoM, 
cutthn  ;; 
o  (.J  three 
the  hike 
Dbably  the 
!  to  run  ii]i 
JHiber,  bnl 
r  with  the 
)u  to  hiuli 
11  specimen 
nsideralile 
jcasioually 


taken  in  Lake  Washington,  and  they  are  at  times  quite  [dentiful  in  Lake  Union,  which 
supplies  all  the  black  bass  to  the  Seattle  market.  The  yellow  perch  (Perm  JlavenccHH) 
lias  also  become  well  established  in  this  lake. 

LAKE  SAMMAMISH,  WASHINGTON. 

While  engaged  in  carrying  on  observations  upon  Lake  Washington  Mr.  Alexander 
made  a  trip,  December  M  to  .January  G,  to  Lake  Sammamish,  a  short  distance  to  the 
eastward.    He  gives  the  following  account  of  this  lake  and  the  investigations: 

This  body  of  water  lies  parallel  to  Lake  Washington,  the  two  lakes  being  sepa- 
rated by  a  hilly  strip  of  country,  the  most  narrow  part  being  3J  miles  across.  The 
peatest  distance  between  the  lakes  is  8  miles. 

Lake  Sammamish  is  38  feet  above  low- water  mark  at  Seattle  and  4  feet  above 
Lake  Washington.  The  land  separating  the  southern  portion  of  the  bodies  of  water 
might  be  termed  mountainous;  many  of  the  hills  rise  from  1,000  to  1,500  feet  from 
their  base,  and  are  covered  mostly  with  a  dense  growth  of  trees.  A  road  cut  through 
the  forest  from  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Sammamish  to  the  east  side  of  Lake  Washing- 
ton is  traveled  considerably  during  the  summer  months.  A  boat  (tonnecting  at  the 
end  of  the  road  carries  passengers  across  Lake  Washington  and  lands  them  in  Seattle 
much  sooner  than  if  they  traveled  by  rail. 

The  length  of  Lake  Sammamish  is  8  miles;  its  greatest  width  (about  halfway 
between  its  north  and  south  points)  is  1^  miles.  Its  narrowest  part  is  near  the 
northern  end,  a  little  over  half  a  mile  from  shore  to  shore.  From  Inglewood,  in  the 
northern  part,  to  Monohan  on  the  south  it  has  a  nearly  uniform  width  of  about  14  miles. 
It  lies  nearly  in  a  north-andsouth  direction;  a  line  being  drawn  north  from  the  south 
end  would  strike  1  mile  east  of  its  most  northern  part.  The  Seattle  and  Lake  Shore 
liailroad  strikes  the  lake  at  Adelaide,  and  follows  the  east  shore  the  entire  length. 
Three  small  towns  are  situated  near  the  shore  on  the  east  side.  The  most  important 
is  Monohan,  near  the  south  end.  On  the  west  side  a  number  of  settlers  have  made 
eousiderable  clearings.  Opposite  Monohan  is  a  huge  pile  of  sawdust,  which  extends 
for  a  considerable  distance  into  the  lake,  and  when  the  water  is  rough  snuill  chunks 
ol  it  are  washed  away.  It  being  water-soaked,  most  of  it  that  falls  into  the  lake 
immediately  si^'''".    The  sawdust  coming  from  the  mill  at  Monohan  is  burned. 

Topujjraphy  of  the  shore. — The  shore  in  most  parts  of  Lake  Sammamish  is  com- 
posed chiefly  of  sand  and  gravel,  forming  numerous  beaches.  These  beaches,  when 
the  water  is  at  its  normal  height,  are  exposed.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  to  tl'3  lake 
(December  31  to  January  6)  the  water  was  about  4  feet  higher  than  in  summer;  it  had 
then  fallen  2  feet  since  the  middle  of  December.  Judging  from  the  condition  of  the 
lidve  at  high  water,  the  beaches  when  exposed  must  be  from  8  to  12  feet  wide,  measur- 
ing from  the  water's  edge  to  the  bank.  In  most  places  they  extend  offshore  at  a 
sharp  angle.  Excei)t  in  a  few  places,  where  the  sandy  and  gravelly  beaches  appear,  the 
hottom  makes  oft"  gradu.ally  and  its  character  is  either  hard  or  soft  mud.  The  south- 
ern shore  of  the  lake  is  skirted  by  low  marsh  land,  which  extends  from  the  southwest 
to  the  southeast  side.  Here  several  small  creeks  empty  into  the  lake,  which,  no  doubt, 
have  contributed  largely  to  the  marsh  land. 

The  hills  bordering  the  southern  portion  of  the  lake  descend  with  a  more  gradual 
slope  than  those  on  the  east  and  west  sides.  The  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  lake  is  not  more  than  4  or  5  feet  higher  than  the  level  of  the  water,  gradually 


42 


BULLETIN   OP   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


rising  for  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  before  tbe  footliills  are  reached.  Many  portions 
of  tliis  slope  have  been  cleared.  Off  the  points  in  this  part  of  tlie  lake,  from  30  to  40 
feet  from  the  shore,  thick  clusters  of  tule  are  submerged  in  water  from  7  to  10  feet 
deep.  Later  in  the  season  a  large  portion  of  the  ground  in  which  this  grass  grows  is 
exposed.  Soundings  were  made  along  the  outer  edges  of  these  strips  and  points 
without  finding  any  indications  of  hard  bottom. 

On  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  lake  the  steep  hills  rise  within  a  short  di8*^.iiict' 
from  the  water;  in  many  places  projecting  points  and  bluffs  rise  very  abrupfy?  with 
little  or  no  shore  line  at  their  base.  The  bottom  close  to  these  projections  is  hard, 
being  composed  of  a  mixture  of  sand,  coarse  gi'avel,  and  small  stones.  The  hilly  land 
is  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  trees,  extending  to  the  water's  edge,  and  at  times 
Avhen  the  water  is  high  it  is  very  ditticult  to  walk  any  distance  along  the  shore 
without  swinging  from  one  bough  of  a  tree  to  another.  Wben  the  water  is  low  or  at 
its  average  height  the  sand  and  gravel  beaches  here  are  bare. 

At  the  foot  of  «.'ie  lake,  on  the  P'-i'theast  side  near  Squak  Slough,  a  low  point 
of  land  extends  for  ;  considerable  distance  southward.  From  this  point  soutli,  a 
distance  of  nearly  2  miles,  the  shore  is  composed  of  sand  and  gravel  beaches.  On 
the  west  side  and  north  from  where  the  last  line  of  soundings  was  begun  the  liills 
gradually  descend  to  the  shore,  and  in  a  number  of  places  toward  the  foot  of  the 
lake  the  land  is  quite  level.  The  shore  line  along  the  northwest  and  northeast  porticms 
of  the  lake  is  covered  with  logs,  slabs,  and  pieces  of  timber,  refuse  material  that  comes 
from  the  shingle  mill  situated  near  the  north  end  and  the  sawmill  near  the  south  end, 
The  greater  part  of  this  material  is  found  in  the  northeast  portion  of  the  lake,  being 
forced  there  by  the  southwest  winds. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  near  its  southern  end,  is  a  submerged  forest,  abont 
half  a  mile  long  north  and  south,  extending  nearly  a  third  of  the  distance  across 
toward  the  east  side.  The  northern  end  of  the  forest  commences  near  the  pile  ot 
sawdust  already  mentioned.  It  runs  parallel  to  the  shore  and  is  separated  from  it 
by  a  distance  of  about  (iOO  feet.  During  the  summer  months  it  is  said  that  the  tops 
of  many  of  the  trees  project  above  the  water  from  1  to  2  feet.  The  lake  then  is  nuu  h 
clearer  than  in  winter,  ard  on  a  bright  day,  when  the  water  is  smooth,  a  large  portion 
of  the  forest,  according  to  the  statement  of  people  living  at  the  lake,  is  plainly  visible. 
Owing  to  the  muddy  condition  of  the  water,  caused  by  the  heavy  rains,  we  were 
unable  to  find  any  of  the  trees.  Many  theories  are  advanced  by  people  living  near 
the  lake  as  to  how  the  forest  came  to  be  in  its  present  position.  The  most  connnon 
theory  is  that  at  some  remote  period  a  gigantic  landslide  occurred  and  the  displaced 
material  found  a  resting-place  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake.  Considering  that  the  nearest 
hills  where  a  landslide  of  such  magnitude  could  have  started  are  situated  nearly  -' 
miles  from  the  lake  with  coni|)aratively  level  country  lying  between,  this  theory  is  not 
altogether  tenable.  A  large  tract  of  land  becoming  detached  from  the  side  of  a  monii 
tain  and  carried  along  rapidly  by  its  own  weight  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  more  from  its 
starting  point  would  by  the  time  it  reached  its  destination  be  a  huge  mass  of  trees. 
earth,  and  stones.  The  trees  would  be  more  or  less  broken,  and  not  left  standinj;  in 
an  upright  position.  It  is  also  likely  that  if  the  forest  in  question  had  suddenly  lueii 
detached  from  the  side  of  one  of  the  adjacent  mountains  it  would  have  stopped  on 
arriving  at  comparatively  level  ground,  but  instead  we  find  it  deposited  a  long  distance 
from  hills  of  any  great  size.    If,  however,  such  had  been  the  ease,  and  it  was  forced 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN    IN   18il6. 


43 


)y  portions 
)m  30  to  40 
7  to  10  feet 
88  grows  is 
and  points 

rt  d is*' .nice 
iipfy?  ^vitli 
JDS  is  hard, 
e  hilly  laiiii 
lid  at  times 
the  shore 
is  low  or  at 

a.  low  point 
nt  soutli,  a 
laches.  On 
III  the  hills 
foot  of  tiie 
ast  portions 
that  comes 
e  south  end. 
lake,  being 

orest,  abont 
uance  across 

the  pile  of 
ated  from  it 
hat  the  to] is 
hen  is  miicli 
arge  portion 
liiily  visible. 
118,  we  were 
1  living  near 
ost  common 
he  displated 
t  the  neai  est 
ted  nearly  - 
theory  is  not 
e  of  a  nioun- 
iiore  from  its 
ass  of  trees. 

standiiij;  in 
iddenly  l>een 
J  stopped  on 
on g  distance 
it  was  forced 


along  over  level  ground,  we  might  expect  to  And  that  part  of  the  lake  where  the  land- 
slide was  deposited  more  shallow  than  elsewhere;  but,  on  the  contrary,  we  lind  a 
depth  of  water  varying  from  50  to  70  feet,  wliich  corresponds  witii  depths  found  in 
other  parts  of  the  lake  the  same  distance  from  the  shore.  It  seems  more  reasonable 
t((  sup|)ose  that  at  .some  distant  period  the  ground  on  which  this  forest  grew,  subsided. 
Tliis,  in  a  measure,  would  account  for  the  trees  being  left  standing  in  their  natural 
position.  Not  having  seen  auy  portion  of  the  submerged  forest,  we  arc  not  able  to 
state  from  personal  observation  anything  concerning  it,  only  stating  wliat  has  been 
given  by  several  reliable  parties.  Ert'orts  were  made  to  locate  some  of  the  trees,  but 
none  of  them  could  be  found  with  the  sounding  line. 

Depth  of  water  and  character  of  bottom. — Lake  Sammamish  is  (piile  uniform  in 
depth,  varying  from  70  io  90  odd  feet  in  the  middle  and  from  3ij  to  "»()  feet  near  the 
sliore.  Tiie  deepest  sounding  was  found  near  the  middle  of  the  lake,  about  halfway 
across  from  llattie  Hell  Springs  to  the  west  shore.  A  line  of  soundings  run  across 
the  upper  part  a  short  distance  below  the  shingle  mill  corresponds  nearly  with  the 
line  across  the  south  end  of  the  lake.  In  no  part  of  the  lake  examined  are  there  indi- 
cations of  plateaus  or  shelves  making  off  from  the  shore.  Only  in  a  few  phuies  was 
shallow  water  found,  and  this  extended  but  a  short  distance  from  the  shore.  In  nearly 
fill  parts  of  the  lake  along  its  margin  the  bottom  drops  oft"  suddenly,  the  water  being 
deep  enough  for  boats  and  small  steamers  to  lie  alongside  and  discharge  freight  or 
passengers. 

From  80  to  100  feet  from  the  shore  is  the  average  distance  where  the  sand  and 
j,'ravel  merge  into  the  hard  or  soft  mud.  A  number  of  places,  however,  were  found 
wliere  sand  and  gravel  bottom  extends  from  125  to  300  feet  into  the  lake;  one  of  these 
l)hices  is  on  the  west  side,  opposite  Hattie  Bell  Springs,  and  the  other  oft'  the  wharf 
on  which  the  sawmill  at  Monohan  is  built. 

At  the  foot  of  the  lake,  above  the  shingle  mill,  the  bottom  is  very  soft  and  in  the 
center  between  the  east  and  west  sides  the  mud  is  said  to  be  several  feet  deep,  and  this 
statement  is  probably  not  exaggerated,  for  in  running  the  line  of  soundings  which  ends 
jnst  below  the  shingle  mill  the  sounding  lead,  nearly  all  the  way  across,  sank  into  the 
soft  bottom  a  foot  or  more. 

Inlets. — Numerous  small  creeks  empty  into  the  lake  both  on  the  east  and  west  sides, 
bnt  the  discharge  of  water  is  not  great  even  during  the  rainy  season,  and  in  summer 
many  of  them  dry  up,  they  being  fed  by  the  drainage  from  the  surrounding  hills.  The 
l)rincipal  inlets  are  Issaquah  and  Planner  creeks,  which  eu'^er  the  lake  on  the  south 
end.  The  main  portion  of  tiie  first  creek  is  2  miles  long  and  the  second  about  3  miles, 
each  having  several  branches  from  i  to  2i  miles  long.  The  water  in  Issaquah  Creek 
is  said  to  be  very  clear  during  the  summer  and  fall  months,  or  was  previous  to  the 
coal  company  using  the  creek  as  a  dumpinggrou'id  for  coal  screenings,  since  which 
time  the  water  has  become  muddy.  There  are  a  number  of  coal  mines  in  tliis  region, 
and  the  people  complain  of  the  screenings  from  them  being  dumped  into  tiie  creeks, 
tiiereby  doing  considerable  injury  to  the  fishing  grounds. 

Outlet. — Squak  Slough,  or  Sammamish  Kiver,  is  the  only  outlet  to  the  lake.  This 
at  times  is  not  large  eiiougii  to  prevent  the  waiter  in  the  lake  from  rising  rapidly,  and 
wiien  Lake  Washington  rises  at  the  same  time,  which  is  usually  the  case,  and  fences 
tiie  water  from  the  slough  into  Lake  Sammamish,  both  lakes  rise  rapidly.    At  the 


44 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


time  of  visiting  l^ako  Saiiimamish  the  water  liad  overflown  the  channel  of  the  8lou;;li 
from  a  (luaiter  to  a  half  mile;  ita  average  width  for  the  part  visited  is  less  than  100 
feet,  in  some  places  not  over  50  feet.  Its  length  is  about  12  miles;  its  course,  as  indi- 
cated on  the  niaj),  is  very  crooked,  and  it  is  navigable  for  small  craft  only. 

Temperatures. — The  water  temperatures  during  our  investigation  varied  but  little, 
and  in  many  parts  of  the  lake  there  is  no  difference.  In  the  first  line  of  soundinjis 
run  across  the  lake  the  surface  and  bottom  temperatures  were  the  same.  The  weatlni 
at  the  time  was  rainy,  misty,  and  cold.  In  the  second  line  a  difference  of  1°  was 
found  In  two  places,  each  in  a  depth  of  90  feet.  At  the  surface  the  thermonnter 
registered  45°  and  at  the  bottom  44'^.  In  the  third  line  the  depths  were  from  33  to  01' 
feet,  with  no  vari-ition  in  temperature.  The  fourth  line,  run  the  same  day,  shows  in 
.'ight  different  soundings  45"^  at  the  surface  ami  44*°  at  the  bottom.  The  fifth  line, 
run  across  the  head  of  the  lake,  showed  no  difference;  but  in  a  number  of  soundings 
taken  on  the  west  side,  near  where  a  small  brook  empties  into  the  lake,  the  water  was 
1°  warmer  at  the  surface  than  at  the  bottom.  The  depths  here  were  comparatively 
shallow.  The  last  line  of  soundings  run,  which  was  across  the  foot  of  the  lake,  alsd 
showed  the  water  to  be  1°  warmer  at  the  surface  than  at  the  bottom.  This  difference 
niiiy  possibly  have  been  because  the  weather  was  warm  and  pleasant,  while  most  (if 
the  time,  when  the  other  soundings  were  taken,  it  was  rainy  and  foggy  and  tlie 
teinp3rature  of  the  air  from  44°  to  5(P.  On  this  day,  January  6,  it  registered  (JO  a 
greater  part  of  the  day. 

Where  the  water  at  the  surface  was  w.^rmer  than  at  the  bottom  it  was  found  that 
the  warm  water  extended  from  5  to  8  feet  below  the  surface;  where  the  temperature 
at  the  bottom  was  warmer  than  at  the  surface  the  water  was  constant  from  15  to  is 
feet  from  the  bottom.  The  thermometer  was  let  down  at  various  depths,  in  most 
cases  at  intervals  of  10  feet,  no  variation  in  temperature  being  noticed  until  the  above 
distance  from  the  bottom  was  reached.  In  a  few  places,  however,  within  10  feet  of 
the  bottom  the  water  remained  constant. 

Condition  of  irater. — In  the  fall  and  winter,  when  the  lake  is  high,  the  water  is  con- 
siderably discolored  by  vegetable  matter  and  sediment  washed  from  the  surrounding 
hills  and  brought  down  by  the  swollen  creeks.  This  gradually  disappears  as  the  rain 
ceases,  after  which  the  water  becomes  clear.  The  fish  then  bite  better  than  at  any 
other  time,  there  being  less  food  in  tlie  water  for  them  to  subsist  upon. 

Lake  Sammamish,  like  Lake  Washington,  never  freezes  over.  When  the  weather 
is  unusually  severe  skim  ice  sometimes  forms  near  the  edge  in  shallow  places,  but  the 
deep  water  does  not  freeze. 

Fishing  trialn. — From  December  31  to  January  6  sounding,  taking  temperatures, 
collecting  with  surface  tow  net,  and  fishing  with  gill  nets  and  troll  were  carried  on. 
The  weather  most  of  the  time  was  stormy.  Fishing  with  gill  nets  was  unsuccessful. 
They  were  set  in  various  places  and  in  different  depths,  visited  twice  each  day,  and 
in  the  evening  set  in  a  different  place.  Inquiries  were  made  of  fishermen  as  to  where 
fish  would  most  likely  be  found,  but  nothing  was  canglit.  A  trawl  was  the  only 
stationary  apparatus  used  that  captured  anything,  and  this  caught  only  one  chub  aiid 
a  blob. 

Fishing  with  troll  line  was  fairly  successful,  five  cut-throat  trout  being  taN<n. 
The  weather  was  unsuitable  for  this  kind  of  fishing.  To  meet  with  good  results  the 
weather  shonld  be  moderate  and  much  warmer  than  it  was  during  the  time  these  trials 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER    BASIN    IN   ISflfi. 


45 


tlie  8loui;li 
.ss  than  100 
rse,  as  iiidi- 

1  but  little, 
8onii(liii<;H 
'he  weatJK  1 
of  lo  \V11S 
lermoiiictei 
0111  33  to  OL' 
y,  shows  iu 
e  fifth  line, 
souiidiiigs 
5  water  was 
nparatively 
e  lalte,  also 
8  differeiirc 
lile  most  of 
gy  and  tlif 
?teied  <>()   ii 

i  fonnd  tliivt 
;emperaturi' 
oni  15  to  IS 
hs,  in  iiKist 
til  the  above 
in  10  feet  of 

water  is  con- 
surrounding 
s  as  the  ruin 
than  at  iiny 

the  weather 
ices,  but  tlie 

(mperatuies, 
carried  on. 
insuccesst'ul, 
ich  day,  and 
1  as  to  wiit'ie 
•as  the  only 
ue  chub  a  lid 

)eing  talvcn. 
[  res-alts  tiie 
3  these  trials 


were  made.  Fishermen  say  that  in  summer,  and  at  other  times  wlieii  tlic  weatht'r  is 
ploasant,  it  is  comparatively  easy  to  catch  from  twenty-live  to  thirty  trout  in  a  day  by 
trolling. 

Trout  would  bite  only  wheu  the  wind  was  light  and  the  lake  smooth.  During  the 
day,  whenever  there  was  little  wind  stirring,  they  could  be  seen  jumping  or  brcal  ing 
wat«r  iu  all  parts  of  the  lake,  but  they  did  not  bite  as  ravenously  as  was  expected, 
probably  on  account  of  the  creeks  having  biought  down  <!onsiderable  quantities  of 
vegetable  .and  other  matter,  such  as  they  may  feed  upon.  Fishermen  claim  that  tlie  fish 
never  bite  well  when  the  lake  is  high.  Several  good  examjjles,  however,  were  caught 
in  the  few  trials  made.  When  fish  are  at  all  inclined  to  bite,  a  trawl  will  usually 
pick  up  a  variety  of  species.  The  trawl  set  (90-odd  hooks)  was  baited  with  fresh  chub 
and  meat,  and  good  results  were  expected  of  it,  but  in  this  we  were  disappointed. 

The  trout  taken  by  trolling  were  caught  close  to  the  shore,  that  being  the  part  of 
the  lake  where  the  fishermen  troll  when  the  water  is  high.  Fish  were  breaking  water 
in  the  middle  of  the  lake,  but  none  was  captured.  In  summer  good  fishing  is  to  be 
had  in  all  parts. 

Methods  of  JiHliing. — The  principal  method  of  taking  fish  in  Iiake  Saminamish  is 
by  trolling,  though  good  catches  are  sometimes  made  with  set  line  and  with  rod  and 
line.  In  summer  the  lake  is  quite  a  resort  for  sportsmen  from  Seattle.  No  coiiimercial 
fishing  is  carried  on,  all  fish  caught  being  locally  consumed,  except  the  few  taken  to 
Seattle  by  people  belonging  there. 

Kinds  of  fish. — The  economic  species  of  fish  "oand  in  Lake  Saramajnish  are  the 
same  as  those  of  Lake  Washington,  namely,  cutthroat  trout,  "  grayling,"  or  redfish, 
and  salmon.  Iso  examples  of  the  last  two  species  were  found,  they  having  disajipearcd 
shortly  after  the  water  in  the  lake  began  to  rise  in  November.  About  that  time  it  is 
said  that  redfish  were  plentiful  in  Squak  Slough  and  in  the  creeks  at  the  head  of  the 
lake.  Salmon  run  with  the  ledlish,  but  only  scattering  individuals  are  taken.  No 
information  could  be  obtained  as  to  what  kind  of  salmon  enter  the  lake;  but  the  dog 
salmon  and  an  occasional  steelhead  probably  find  their  way  into  this  body  of  water. 
During  the  redfish  run  the  neighboring  Indians  do  considerable  fishing  on  Squak 
Slough,  and  lay  in  their  supply  for  winter.  Only  one  person  living  near  the  lake 
claims  to  have  caught  a  whitefish  in  it,  and  he  was  not  sure  that  the  specimen  was  a 
genuine  whitefish;  others  who  saw  the  fish  say  that  it  was  not,  but  admit  that  the 
fish  difl'ered  from  any  previously  taken  iu  the  lake. 

Spawning  habits. — I'eople  living  near  Lake  Sammamish  say  that  the  cut-throat 
trout  spawn  in  the  spring  and  the  condition  of  most  of  the  specimens  indicates  that 
they  are  correct  in  their  observations.  One  taken  in  Lake  Washington  contained  eggs 
well  advanced,  but  this  fish  would  hardly  indicate  a  difl'erence  in  the  spawning  season 
between  the  two  lakes,  as  fish  can  easily  pass  I'roin  one  lake  to  the  other.  The  redfish 
probably  8i)awn  some  time  in  November,  that  being  the  time  they  run  in  greatest 
numbers.  Only  a  few  specimens  were  taken,  and  they  were  not  sufficiently  developed 
to  form  an  estimate  as  to  the  month  in  which  they  spawn,  but  people  who  have 
caught  and  observed  the  redfish,  both  in  Lake  Sammamish  and  Lake  Washington, 
believe  that  the  spawning  season  is  from  the  latter  part  of  October  to  the  middle  of 
November.  To  gain  a  better  knowledge  as  to  the  habits  of  this  species  in  this  region 
some  person  should  be  stationed  at  these  lakes  early  iu  the  fall,  before  the  rainy  season 
comes  ou. 


46 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED  STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


It  is  Haid  that  rcdflHh  run  only  for  a  abort  time,  that  thoy  disappear  as  siuhli'iily 
as  they  come,  and  few  are  seen  in  any  part  of  the  hikes  after  tlie  run  is  over.  Almost 
every  ])ers()n  with  whom  we  conversed  on  the  8nbje(!t  cxitressed  the  opinion  that  Hie 
redhsh,  or  "grayling,"  as  they  are  commonly  called,  annually  come  in  from  the  ocean; 
but  some  believe  that  they  never  leave  the  lake,  but  retire  into  the  deep  parts  of  tlic 
lake  as  soon  as  tlie  spawning  season  is  over.  Positive  knowledge  on  the  subject  is 
lacking.  The  few  specimens  taken  in  Lake  Washington  would  hardly  warrant  lui 
opinion  to  be  formed  as  to  their  habits  in  these  lakes.  It  would  bo  necessary  to  observe 
a  considerable  number  from  the  tin\e  they  first  appear  until  they  leave. 

Surface  material. — Collecting  with  surface  tow  net  was  carried  on  at  ditftueiit 
intervals.  As  was  the  case  on  i^ake  Washington,  surface  life  was  found  most  abnn 
dant  in  the  evening;  at  other  times  a  trial  of  15  or  20  minutes  would  result  in  a  suimII 
<iuantity  of  material. 

I>e2)th  of  water,  ttimperaturi;  and  character  of  bottom  of  Lake  Satnmamish, 


" 

Dat 

e. 

1896.   1 

Doc 

ni  1 

:ii  { 

31  1 

■M   1 

31  i 

31  ' 

31  j 

31 

31 

81 

1897.   1 

Jan 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

Depth 
of 

water. 


Feet. 

(llOJ 
III 
9(t 
102 
90 
84 
824 
76$ 
90 

13 

(/32 
OU 
80 
87J 
SO 
90 
87 
80 
73 
70 
69i 
51 
36 

28 

C6i 
70 
851 
88 
92 
914 
33 
d32.i 

83  .^ 


ObarBoter 

of 

bottom. 


Ilanl  sand . 
Hard  iniid  . 
SoftluiKl... 

do 

...do 

....do 

do 

...do 

Hard 
Hand 
(Iravi'l 


mud. 


Sand 

Soft  nitiil 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do  . . 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do  . . 

do.. 

Sand 
gravel 

do 

Softnind 

do 

....do 

....do 

do , 

....do ; 

...do 

Hard  Ba'  .i . . . . 
Uardaandand  < 

Kravcl 

Sottniiid 


and 


a  About  20  feet  from  bridfte;  flrnt  line  Boundine. 
Ii  Second  line  iif  soiindinKH  250  feet  from  Hnwniill. 
c  Commencement  of  third  Hue  of  souudiuRa. 


IVm- 

Tem-  I 

per- 

per-  ! 

ature 

uture 

of 

of   ! 

Hurface. 

bottom,  i 

[ 

OF. 

OF. 

45 

45 

45 

45 

'45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

46 

45 

15 

4S 

45 

46 

45 

*■> 

45 

46 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

46  i 

45 

45 

45 

44 

45 

44 

45 

46  ' 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45  \ 

45 

45  1 

45 

45 

45 

45  1 

45 

46  ■ 

45 

45  ! 

45 

46 

45 

45  i 

45 

45 

ir< 

46 

45 

444 

Date. 


1897. 
Jan. 


Depth 

of 
water. 


Oliaraotcr 

of 

lM)ttom. 


Tem- 
per- 
ature 
of 


Tem- 
per- 
ature 
of 


Ftet. 
85 
934 
03 

go 

094 
88 
87 
80 
76 
30 
12 
19 
44 
60 
69 
74 
70 
814 
84 
66 
50 
«5 
24 
8 
27 
30 

/8 
67 
624 
68 
604 
70 
72 
70 
674 
42 

m 


Soft  mud 
. . .  do  . . 
....do.. 
....do.. 
...  do.. 

do.. 

...  do.. 
....do.. 
...  do.. 
...do.. 

...do I 

....do : 

Hard  Hand I 

Soft  mud ' 

....do 


■II rfaee.  bottom 


°V. 

44, 
44  I 
44 
44 


do 

..do 

..do 

.do 

..do 

do 

llai'dirravcl.. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Soft  mud 

do 

do 

...    -li 

do 

do 

do , 

do 

do 

Ciiarao  gravel . 


o  F. 
45 
45 
46 
45 
45 
45 
45 
46 
46 
45 
46 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
46 
46 
45 
45 
45 
46 
46 
46 
4(1 
45 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 


45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

46 

45 

46 

46 

46 

46 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

46 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

454 

46 


dCommenrement  of  fourth  line  of  soundings. 

e  Sniindings  elone  to  a  ')rook. 

/Sixth  line  of  soundings  20  feet  from  shore. 


hs  snddt'iily 
ir,  Aliimst 
)ii  that  tlic 
th«  ocean; 
)art»  of  tlic 
)  siibject  is 
warrant  lui 
y  to  observe 

at  diftcieiit 
moat  abuii 
It  in  a  small 


Bull.  U.  S.  F.  C.  1897.    (To  Uc*  pigt  46.) 


Plate  2. 


Tt'in- 
per- 
atnre 

of 
mttiiiii. 


of. 

44J 
44  i 
44i 
44{ 
44$ 
44$ 

4r> 
4r. 

45 

45 

46 

43 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

43 

45 

45 

45 

45 

45 

43 

43i 

46 


shore. 


•  Adelaide, 


Lake  Saramamish,  near  Seattle,  Wash., 
showing  soundings  taken  by  U.  S. 
Fish  Commission,  in  December,  1896, 
and  January,  1897. 


St\  line  of^4oundu^. 


SALMON   i: 


Tlie  following,'  iif 

TliiH  body  oi"  \Vi 

straight  line  from  \n 

south  ends,  tlireoqu 

two  arms,  oim  leadii 

trom  the  foot  of  the 

Lake  Union  has 

is  found  ill  nearly  a 

tiie  northeast  arm  tl 

places  where  there  i 

of  +he  northeast  arm 

part  of  the  lake  bet\ 

to  the  water's  edge  v 

covered  with  willow 

for  a  considerable  di 

The  land  suiroi 

heavily  wooded,  but 

great  forest  having  | 

runs  the  Seattle  and 

east  and  northeast  s 

The  bottom  in  n 

From  the  2d  to 

taking  4  salmon,  1  c 

less  than  24  hours,  i 

places  best  adapted 

ill  greatest  numbers 

nothing  was  caught, 

gill  nets  might  capti 

During  the  sum 

that  they  are  someti 

illegal,  but  is  carrier 

Lake  Washington,  i 

Lake  Union,  where 

Why  they  should  t 

where  they  were  pi 

difference  in  the  cot 

Union.    The  theory 

Union  and  not  in  I 

much  more  abuiidai 

(litference  in  the  am 

In  winter  the  t 

tliat  of  Lake  Wash 

unusually  severe  do 

is  tlie  warmer,  it  be 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COH'MIHA    RIVER   BASIN    IN    lx!l(!, 


17 


LAKE  UNION,  WASHINGTON, 

The  followinj;  notes  on  hake  Union  liuvc  b»'«'n  riirnishcd  by  Mv.  AIomiimUt: 

Tliis  body  oi'  water  lies  close  to  the  city  of  ►Seattle.  It.s  lonjith,  iiu'iismtMl  in  a 
straiglit  line  from  north  to  soiitli,  is  \f,  miles;  witltli,  hallway  between  tlu"  north  and 
south  ends,  three«iuaiters  of  u  nuie.  Uraiiehiiif^  out  from  tlie  head  of  tiie  lake  are 
two  arms,  one  leadiiifj  to  the  northeast  and  the  otii«'r  to  the  nortiiwest.  iMeasured 
t'lom  the  foot  of  the  nortlieast  arm  the  lake  has  a  leiifjth  of  .'{|  miles. 

Lake  Union  has  a  quite  uinlbrm  depth  in  the  center;  the  greatest  depth,  18  feet, 
is  found  in  nearly  all  i)arts  of  the  main  body  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  shore.  In 
the  northeast  arm  the  soundiiiffs  varied  from  '2i  to  137  feet.  Near  the  shore,  except  in 
places  where  there  is  marsh  land,  the  depth  is  from  18  to  L'.T  feet.  In  the  south  end 
<if  <^he  northeast  arm  the  land  is  marshy;  also  olf  the  point  extending  into  the  northern 
part  of  the  lake  between  the  two  arms.  In  most  other  parts  }jrass  land  extends  down 
ti)  the  water's  edge  with  a  {jradual  slope.  On  the  east  side  the  land  is  quite  level  and 
covered  with  willow  and  other  trees.  This  strip  of  laiid  extends  back  from  the  lake 
for  a  considerable  di.stance,  when  it  suddenly  runs  into  hi},'h  blutfs. 

The  land  surrounding  the  lake  for  the  most  part  is  hi>,'h  and  was  at  one  time 
heavily  wooded,  but  now  only  small  clumps  of  trees  are  left  standing,  most  of  the  once 
great  forest  having  given  way  to  town  sites  and  buildings.  Skirting  tlie  north  shore 
runs  the  Seattle  and  Lake  Shore  Railroad.  The  shore  is  thickly  settled,  except  on  the 
east  and  northeast  sides. 

The  bottom  in  nearly  all  parts  is  mud,  in  some  places  intermingled  with  fine  sand. 

From  the  2d  to  the  8th  of  December  gill  nets  were  set  in  ten  different  places, 
taking  -t  salmon,  1  cutthroat  trout,  and  -  suckers.  In  no  place  were  the  nets  down 
less  than  24  hours,  and  in  one  place  they  remained  down  Tli  hours.  They  were  set  in 
places  best  adapted  for  this  kind  of  fishing  and  where  black  bass  had  been  caught 
in  greatest  numbers.  Tiolling  for  black  bass  was  carried  on  at  d liferent  times,  but 
nothing  was  caught.  The  season  was  too  late  for  them,  but  it  was  thought  that  the 
gill  nets  might  capture  a  specimen  or  two. 

During  the  summer  black  bass  are  fre(|uently  taken  by  trolling,  and  it  is  reported 
that  they  are  sometimes  taken  in  nets  secretly  set  for  their  capture.  Thic.  method  is 
illegal,  but  is  carried  on  to  some  extent.  Only  a  few  black  bass  have  been  caught  in 
Lake  Washington,  and  those  planted  in  this  lake  in  1890  soon  found  their  way  into 
Lake  Union,  where  they  are  said  to  be  quite  plentiful  during  the  suunner  nujnths. 
Why  they  should  find  the  water  in  Lake  Union  better  suited  to  their  wants  than 
where  they  were  planted  is  not  easily  explained.  It  can  not  be  due  wholly  to  the 
difference  in  the  condition  of  the  water,  for  Lake  Washington  largely  supplies  Lake 
Union.  The  theory  that  i)resents  itself  to  accoi'ut  for  tlsese  fish  being  found  in  Lake 
I'nion  and  not  in  liake  Washington  is  that  in  the  former  lako  small  surface  life  is 
much  more  abundant.  The  collections  made  in  the  two  lakes  show  a  considerable 
iliifereuce  in  the  amount  taken  in  each  trial. 

In  winter  the  temperature  of  water  of  this  lake  is  several  degrees  colder  than 
that  of  Lake  Washington,  though  ice  .seldom  forms,  and  only  when  the  winter  is 
iniusually  severe  does  the  lake  freeze  over;  it  is  probable  that  in  summer  Lake  Union 
is  the  warmer,  it  being  shallow. 


48 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


Date. 


Time. 


1806. 
Dec.  2... 
2... 


D.oo  n.  Ill  . 
ll.UUa.  m  . 
3.20  p.  Ill  . 
3.3U  p.  Ill  . 
3.4U  p.  Ill  . 
4.U0  p.  Ill  . 


Temperature!  taken  in  Lake  I'nion. 


Depth. 

Temperature. 

Date. 

Surface 

Bottom 

reel. 

OF. 

of. 

I8»fl. 

e 

42 

44 

Dec.  2.... 

21 

42 

44 

2.... 

12 

42 

42 

3.... 

48 

43 

42 

3.... 

36 

43 

42 

3... 

24 

43 

42 

i 

Time. 


4.20p.m,. 

4.45  p.  m  . 
10.30  a.  Ill  . 
12. LI  p.  Ill  . 

l.UOp.  m  . 


I  Depth. 


I 


Feet. 
24 

27 

48 

48 

9 


Temptittture. 

Surfni'C 

Bottom. 

op 

cF. 

43 

42 

42 

43 

43 

42 

43 

42 

41 

42 

I 


SIUSLAW  RIVER,  OREGON. 

In  1894  tlie  State  of  Oregon  eieoted  a  building  ou  tlie  Siuslaw  River  at  Mapletoi,. 
Oregon,  with  the  intention  of  conducting  salnioncultural  operations  'it  that  phuc. 
Thi.s  '  iddiug  finally  reverted  to  the  original  owner  of  the  laud  upon  which  it  wiis 
locateJ.  Believing  that  this  station  could  be  successfully  and  prolitably  operated,  tlic 
owner,  through  Mr.  L.  E.  Bean,  of  Mapleton,  kindly  offered  its  free  use  to  the  Unitcil 
States  Fish  Commission  for  that  purpose.  In  response  to  this  offer  Dr.  Meek  and  .Mr. 
Alexander  were  instructed  to  visit  the  station  and  make  such  examination  as  would 
determine  the  i  robability  of  its  being  operated  advantageously.  Tlie  prelimiiiiiiy 
inquiry,  made  early  in  September,  showed  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  catch  tlie  lisli 
at  the  Ashing  ground,  several  miles  below  the  station,  and  retain  them  in  boxes  until 
ripe.  It  was  thought  that  this  could  be  done  and  that  the  boxes  could  be  floated  on  I  lie 
tide  up  to  the  station.  This  could  be  determined  only  through  experiiiuiiitation.  I  >i'. 
Meek  was  therefore  instructed  to  return  to  Mapleton  and  thoroughly  test  the  matter. 

General  description  of  Siuxl'tn'  River. — 'the  Siuslaw  River  is  one  of  the  short 
coastal  streams  in  Oregon  who.se  basin  is  confined  entirely  to  the  western  slope  of  tlio 
Coast  Range.  From  its  mouth  to  its  source  is  a  distance  of  about  100  miles.  It  (ha ins 
a  very  broken  country,  which  is  quite  heavily  timbered.  From  the  mouth  of  Wilih  at 
Creek  to  near  the  month  of  Noitli  Fork  tlie  river  flows  through  a  canyon  .^  to  3  nnU'.s 
in  width.  The  hills  or  mountains)  on  each  side  of  the  cauj'ou  arc  from  200  to  over  l,ilil() 
feet  above  the  river  and  are  very  steep.  At  the  mouth  of  North  I'ork  is  a  large  area 
which  is  covered  by  w.tter  only  at  high  tide.  This  region,  known  as  the  mud  fiats,  is 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  includes  most  of  the  distaiu*  between  Acme  am! 
Florence.  At  Florence  the  river  turns  nearly  north  and  then  curves  slightly  toward 
the  west.  The  right-hand  bank  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  low  bluff  of  soft  sandstone; 
the  left  is  bordered  by  sand  hills. 

The  Siuslaw  River  above  the  mouth  of  Wildcat  Creek  was  not  visited,  but  from 
what  we  were  able  to  learii  that  portion  is  (piite  similar  in  all  resjiects  to  the  part 
immediately  below  that  creek,  exceiit  that  gravel  bars  become  nitich  more  freciueiil  as 
you  ascend  the  river.  From  the  mouth  of  Wildcat  Creek  to  the  head  of  tide,  a  dista  iice 
of  about  24  miles,  the  bottom  of  the  river  is  sandstone  in  mti(,  over  which,  in  many 
places,  are  scattered  large,  angular,  somewliat  water- worn,  sandstoiui  bowlders.  Tlic 
river  above  head  of  tide  water  is  from  60  to  L'OO  feet  in  width,  and  during  the  aumnnr 
in  many  places  the  wafer  is  less  than  3  feet  in  depth. 

Tiie  canyon  is  cut  through  sandstone,  which  in  some  places  is  nearly  liorizontal. 
while  in  others  it  is  tilted  more  or  less,  seldom  more  than  30'-\  The  only  portion 
noticed  which  showed  signs  of  being  metamorphic  is  a  bluff  on  the  right  hi>nd  ol  liio 
river  between  Seatou  and  Mapleton. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN    IN   1896. 


49 


ttom. 

>F 
42 
4» 
42 
42 
42 


;Mapietiii.. 
tliat  idacf. 
biicli  it  \va? 
)erated,  tlic 
the  Uuitcil 
lek  and  .Mi. 
m  as  would 
[n-eliniiiiiiry 
tcU  tlie  lisli 
boxes  until 
mtedon  Hr; 
tat  ion.  IM'. 
the  inatt<T. 
f  the  shdit 
.slope  of  I  111' 
s.    It  drains 

I  of  Wildiat 
h  to  3  niik's 

«  over  1,000 
a  large  area 
mild  Hats,  is 

II  Acuie  mil! 
;htly  to\v:inl 
;  sandstone; 

imI,  but  from 
<  to  the  ii;irt 
5  freciuent  as 
le,  adistiince 
ich,  in  ni:iii,\ 
vlders.  'i'l"' 
the  siiniiiMi' 

y  liorizontal. 
only  porlii'ii 
hund  of  the 


The  timber  in  the  region  drained  by  the  Siuslaw  is  chiefly  fir,  some  cedar,  hemlock, 
spruce,  maple,  and  alder.  Some  of  the  alders  are  as  macli  as  18  iiiclies  in  diameter, 
and  some  of  tho  fir  trees  a  short  distance  west  of  the  summit  of  the  Coast  Range  are 
very  high.  There  is  also  in  this  region  a  very  rich  growth  of  ferns,  chiefly  the  connnon 
Pterin.  A  large  portion  of  the  timber  along  the  lower  30  miles  of  the  Siuslaw  was 
destroyed  by  fire  some  sixty  years  ago.  This  is  being  replaced  by  an  undergrowth  of 
tir,  alder,  maple,  etc.    The  timber  bordering  the  sand  hills  is  mostly  bull  pine. 

The  North  Fork  of  Siuslaw  River  is  much  smaller  than  the  main  river.  In  the 
neighborhood  of  Minerva  the  deeper  holes  in  the  river  are  from  20  to  50  feet  wide,  the 
shallow  places  connecting  these  holes  being  about  half  this  width.  Along  the  river, 
for  a  distance  above  tide  water  of  about  8  miles,  are  many  gravel  bars  over  which  the 
water  flows  during  the  summer  in  depths  varying  from  a  few  inches  to  about  3  feet. 
The  timber  along  the  North  Fork  is  similar  to  that  on  the  main  river,  the  under  or 
smaller  growth  immediately  on  the  banks  being  some  denser.  Very  little  timber  along 
the  North  Fork  below  Minerva  has  been  destroyed  and  scarcely  none  above  that  place. 
The  water  in  North  Fork  is  clear,  though  considerably  stained  by  vegetation,  much 
more  so  than  in  the  main  fork. 

The  water  in  the  Siuslaw  in  the  summer  is  moderately  clear,  though  slightly 
discolored  by  vegetation.  It  also  contains  a  fine  silt  or  sediment  of  some  sort,  which 
collects  on  the  web  of  gill  nets.  At  flood  tide,  about  halfway  between  Florence  and 
Mapleton,  the  water  appears  of  a  reddish  color,  apparently  due  to  the  mingling  of  the 
comparatively  fresh  with  the  brackisli  water,  the  salt  in  the  brackish  water  ])recipi- 
tatiiig  the  clay  sediment  in  the  fresher  water.  During  the  summer,  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  the  water  at  all  times  is  too  brackish  for  steamboat  boiler  use. 

The  head  of  tide  \7ater  is  about  half  a  mils  above  Seaton.  About  half  a  mile 
below  Seaton  is  an  island  in  the  river,  on  either  side  of  which,  at  low  tide,  the  water  in 
the  deepest  place  is  less  than  3  feet.  Small  steamers  drawing  about  3^  feet  of  water 
can  not  pass  this  island  in  summer  except  at  from  half  to  full  tide. 

Majdeton  is  1  mile  belov  eaton.  Below  Mapleton  in  summer  and  at  low  tide  the 
wat  -A-  in  the  shallow  por*'  of  the  river  is  seldom  less  than  10  or  12  feet  in  depth. 
Seaton  is  properly  the  head  of  tide  water,  Mapleton  the  hea<l  of  navigation. 

The  river  below  Mapleton  will  average  at  least  twice  as  wide  as  it  docs  above  it, 
and  't  varies  in  dei)th  at  low  tide  in  summer  from  10  to  12  feet  to  as  much  as  GO  feet. 

On  October  10  a  series  of  bottom  temperatures  from  Martin  Creek  to  Acme  was 
taken.  The  temperatute  of  the  air  at  8  a.  m.  was  57°;  surface  of  the  water  at  Martin 
Creek,  57°;  bottom  at  same  place  at  a  depth  of  15  feet,  58°.  This  bottom  temperature 
decreased  as  we  approached  the  lower  portion  of  the  river  until  at  Acme,  in  30  feet  of 
water,  it  was  5i°. 

The  fishermen,  methods  offi<ih>>ig,  efc— The  fishermen  on  the  Siuslaw  River  are  with 
k-w  exceptions  Americans,  Norwegians,  and  Indians.  The  fishing  on  the  main  river 
is  done  for  the  moso  part  by  the  Americans  and  Norwegians,  on  the  North  Fork 
mostly  by  Indians.  i)nring  the  past  season  about  throe-fourths  of  the  fishermen  were 
permanent  resident.*  on  the  river;  the  remaining  one-fourth  were  mostly  from  the 
Columbia  River,  and  in  general  they  restricte<l  their  fishing  to  the  lower  8  miles  of 
the  river,  using  drift  nets.  The  resident  fishermen  are  furtlicr  up  che  river  and  set 
their  nets  in  the  ordinary  way.  Each  fisherman  regards  himself  as  privileged  to  fish 
anywhere  along  the  river  he  chooses.    The  fact  tliat  a  man  owns  property  on  the  river 

V.  C.  B.  1897-4 


50 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


is  apparently  no  reason  why  be  should  restrict  his  fishery  to  his  own  water  front  or 
prevent  anyone  else  from  iishing  there.  For  convenience  each  resident  sets  his  mts 
as  near  his  home  as  possible  a:ul  has  usually  a  number  of  well-defined  sets,  which  aic 
sometimes  marked.  These  sets  are  the  places  which  he  regards  as  the  best  in  whicli 
to  catch  flshi  and  are  free  from  snags.  One  fisherman  will  seldom  intentionally  use 
a  set  belongiiij.-;  to  another. 

During  tlie  past  year  very  little  attention  was  given  to  the  "  Saturday  night  law.'' 
It  was  said  that  tliis  has  not  only  been  the  case  in  past  years  on  the  Siuslaw  River, 
but  that  it  is  practically  a  dead  letter  on  all  of  the  streams  in  Oregon.  Tlie  lisherincn 
on  the  Siuslaw  seem  to  agree  that  all  of  them  would  profit  as  well  by  resijccting  it  as 
by  breaking  it.  A  few  persist  in  setting  their  nets  or  d  iff  ig-  Saturday  nights  ami, 
in  order  that  these  few  men  may  have  no  advantp.r;  •  v\(  t'.-a  others,  they,  too,  \)i\t 
out  their  nets  on  Saturday  nights. 

According  to  the  law  the  fishing  season  closes  on  tlie  J-^Ublaw  River  November  1. 
This  law,  of  course,  is  intended  for  all  of  the  coastal  streams  in  Oregon,  and  as  tlie 
time  of  the  run  of  salmon,  especially  of  silver  salmon,  varies  somewhat  in  the  ditler- 
ent  rivers  the  law  does  )iot  protect  all  alike.  In  the  Siuslaw  River  the  largest  run  of 
silver  salmon  occurs  anywhere  from  October  25 to  Novembc- 10.  iSbout  this  time  the 
firist  fall  rains  begin  and  a  gradual  rise  in  the  river  is  accompanied  by  an  increased  run 
of  silver  salmon.  In  189G  the  rains  began  October  '*i.  The  river  did  not  rise  much 
until  the  night  of  November  7,  when  it  rose  about  8  feet,  which  put  an  end  to  llshinjr. 

The  largest  run  of  silver  salmon  was  between  October  28  and  November  0. 
About  the  same  condition  of  affairs  is  said  to  have  existed  last  season. 

The  law  whicii  requires  the  season  to  close  November  1  in  no  way  protects  the 
Chinook  salmon,  as  the  run  of  this  fish  is  over  by  October  W.  As  fisl'int'  is  the  cliiet' 
source  of  income  of  many  of  the  citizens  on  the  Siuslaw  River  it  sennu,  Lo  them  quite 
a  hardsliip  to  be  obliged  to  stop  fishing  daring  the  best  porticm  of  : '■ ",  season.  '*.!! 
commercial  ftsiiing  on  the  river  is  confined  to  that  portion  below  de  ^i,  ^erj  in  fact 
very  little  is  ever  done  above  Mapleton  until  near  the  close.  <»=  .'ii>!i)!!g  season. 
The  distance  from  the  head  of  tido  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  is  ai/ou'  2H  iiul'.»s. 

ComMiei'cial  fishing  on  the  Siuslaw  is  carried  on  by  gill  nets,  sciwt  an'i  trolling 
lines,  but  mostly  by  gill  nets.  The  gill  nets  operated  by  the  fishern.eii  » .igaged  in 
drifting  arc  from  100  to  150  fathoms  long;  they  are  used  only  on  the  lo  ver  8  miles  of 
the  river,  whtire  the  current  is  too  swift  during  flood  and  ebb  tides  U,  allow  them  to 
be  set  In  the  ordinary  way.  There  are  a  great  many  sunken  logs  iiul  trees  infills 
))ortion  of  the  river,  as  well  as  further  up  the  stream,  and  the  d-^ilts  are  therelore 
usually  short.  All  gill  nets  used  on  the  river  from  the  head  of  t'.ie  water  to  within  8 
miles  of  its  mouth  are  set  in  ';he  ordinary  way.  Tliey  are  all  anchored  by  heavy  r<)rl<s 
tied  to  the  lead  line  at  di.'itances  of  from  3  to  8  fathoms  apart  ^hey  vary  in  leiiL;tii 
from  about  25  to  10(>  fathoms. 

That  portion  of  the  river  in  which  gill  nets  are  set  varl^.  '  •<  i  about  8  to  l.'iC 
fathoms  in  width.  The  gil!  nets  also  vaiy  in  length  and,  as  ii.,  isherni.m  contin«> 
bis  fishing  to  anyone  portion  of  the  river,  very  little  attention  isi)aidto  the  law  wliieii 
prohibits  the  use  of  pill  nets  reaching  mo'e  ',han  one-tliird  distance  across  the  river. 
Nets  set  in  the  Siu.-<la\  Itiver  teac',:  mI  the  /av  iiom  one  fourth  i  the  entire  distance 
acro.ss  it.  During  Hood  and  ebb  u'ie  the  'jrnv  it  in  the  river  is  so  swift  that  mts 
extending  from  abcmt  one  third  to  t\v<-  ih./ds  across  the  river  have  their  cork  line 
dragged  so  low  tluvt  tiie  net  pres'Mts  a  coraparatively  small  and  a  very  poor  fishm}: 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUAIBIA    RIVER   BASIN   IN  1896. 


51 


ter  front  or 
its  liis  lifts 
,  which  are 
st  ill  which 
ionally  use 

night  hiw." 
daw  River, 
e  lishcrnieii 
ecting  it  as 
nights  ami, 
ey,  too,  put 

tovember  I. 
.and  as  the 
11  tlio  (litVer- 
rgcst  run  of 
liis  time  the 
creased  run 
t  rise  much 
d  to  lishinji. 
[ovembcr  (i. 

[irotects  the 
•  is  the  chief 
)  tliem  (juite 
reason.     *-!'. 

+pr  j  in  faet 
'i?)g  season. 
.iih?8. 
ai»'l  trolling 

» .igagetl  in 
cr  8  miles  of 
low  theui  to 
trees  in  this 
TC  thereh)re 
r  to  within  8 

heavy  nirks 
,ry  in  leiii;tli 

out  8  to  l.'iO 
nan  coiitiiies 
he  law  whii'h 
)8S  tlie  riM'i. 
tire  distance 
ift  that  II 'ts 
eir  cork  line 
poor  lislnufr 


•surface.  If  the  net  extends  from  bank  to  bank  the  current  raises  the  lead  line 
between  anchor  rocks  and  drags  down  the  cork  line  to  the  extent  of  destroying  a 
good  share  of  the  fishing  capacity  of  the  net.  It  is  quite  evident  that  nets  set  in  the 
Siuslaw  Eiver  fish  very  little  except  during  slack  water. 

During  the  new  and  full  moon  tides  the  current  in  the  river  is  so  swift  that  the 
outer  ends  of  the  nets,  which  reach  only  a  part  way  across  the  river,  are  drifted  toward 
the  sliore,  and  they  frequently  become  so  much  snagged  in  drifting  one  way  that  it 
is  impossible  to  pick  tliein  up  until  the  return  tide.  The  fishermen  drifting  always 
take  advantage  of  slack  water,  in  order  to  fish  their  nets  a  longer  time  withont  taking 
them  up.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  fishing  season  many  nets  used  in  drifting  are 
cut  into  shorter  lengths  and  set  farther  up  the  river.  It  seems  to  be  a  fact  recognized 
by  the  fishermen  that  in  any  one  portion  of  the  river  a  net  will  fish  much  better  at 
one  bank  than  at  the  other,  so  it  is  much  more  advantageous  to  have  two  nets,  each 
reaching  halfway  across  the  river,  than  one  single  net  reaching  entirely  across.  Three 
nets  each  reaching  one-third  distance  across  the  river  are  often  preferable  to  a  single  net 
reaching  the  entire  distance.    Nets  are  seldom  set  in  the  river  in  the  daytime. 

Gill  nets  are  also  used  in  surf  fishing  late  in  the  fishing  season,  wh  jn  comparatively 
few  salmon  are  entering  the  river.  The  usual  depth  cf  the  net  used  iu  surf  fishing  is 
about  half  that  used  in  drifting.  At  either  end  of  the  nets,  which  are  about  150 
fathoms  long,  long  ropes  are  attached.  The  net  is  stretched  along  the  shire  and 
allowed  to  be  caught  by  the  surf,  which  carries  it  some  distance  to  sea;  it  is  theu 
slowly  drawn  to  shore  after  the  manner  of  a  seine.  This  method  of  fishing  is  so  diffi- 
cult and  the  results  so  small  that  it  is  not  much  followed. 

A  short  distance  above  Acme  is  an  excellent  seiuiiig-ground,  but  the  use  of  a 
seine  has  usually  been  opjiosed  by  fishermen  using  gill  nets  farther  up  the  river.  The 
seine  was  used  this  season  from  September  10  to  November  1  by  those  who  most 
strongly  opposed  it  last  year,  but  was  less  profitable  than  was  expected.  The  majority 
of  the  fishermen  would  favor  a  law  restricting  the  fishing  to  tlie  use  of  gill  nets.  The 
seine  was  but  little  disturbed  this  year.  One  night  a  boat  filled  with  rocks  was  ruui: 
on  the  ground,  but  this  the  seine  brought  ashore  at  its  first  haul  next  moruiug.  At 
another  time  a  peculiar  framework  was  anchored  in  the  river,  which  was  so  constructed 
as  to  raise  the  lead  line  when  the  seine  was  about  half  hauled  in.  This  contrivance 
was  also  brought  ashore.  The  fact  that  the  seine  did  not  meet  with  the  success 
expected  lessened  the  opjiosition  to  its  use.  Ghinooks  were  caught  by  it  for  the 
hatchery,  and  this  was  no  doubt  a  factor  in  its  favor. 

Chiuooks  and  the  silver  salmon  are  often  caught  by  trolling  in  the  Siuslaw  River, 
and  they  occasionally  take  hooks  baited  with  salmon  eggs  or  other  bait.  On  October 
10  Mr.  L.  E.  Reaii  caught  3  chiuooks  and  0  silver  salmon  trolling  for  about  an  hour 
near  the  mouth  of  Martin  Greek.  The  following  day  8  silver  salmon  were  caught  by 
trolling  from  M.ipleton  to  l*oint  Terrace,  a  distance  of  about  C  miles.  Some  of  the 
cliinooks  and  silver  salmon  caught  in  this  way  were  red  in  color  and  the  jaws  distorted. 
Considerable  trolling  is  done  during  October  between  ]\Iapleton  and  Point  Terrace, 
not  only  for  sport,  but  for  market  as  well.  The  amount  of  fishing  done  on  the  Siuslaw 
liiver  is  rated  by  boats,  each  boat  having  ordinarily  '2  men  and  about  100  fathoms  of 
net.  This  past  year  there  were  from  7.">  to  80  bouts  engaged  in  fishing  on  both  the 
Hiushiw  River  and  North  Fork,  using  a  total  of  about  10,000  fathoms  of  net.  The 
seine  was  operated  by  (5  men  and  I  hor  e,  and  was  equivalent  to  3  or  4  boats. 


lllir.f.B 


52 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


The  legal  fisbiDg  season  extends  from  September  1  to  November  1.  Some  of  tlip 
fishermen  begin  fishing  as  soon  as  the  law  permits,  bnt  the  majority  do  not  commence 
until  the  cannery  begins  operations.  Tests  made  in  August  and  early  in  Seijtemhcr 
showed  that  the  chinook  salmon  did  not  arrive  in  considerable  numbers  until  alxnit 
the  10th  of  September.  They  began  to  enter  the  river  in  the  early  part  of  August. 
Very  few  were  caught  in  the  lower  part  of  the  river  after  the  middle  of  October.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Mapleton,  however,  a  good  many  were  taken  as  late  as  the  last  of  Otto 
ber.  They  nioved  uj)  the  river  apparently  very  slowly,  evidently  remaining  for  n 
p(»nsiderable  tirae  in  the  deeper  portions  of  the  river. 

Xt  Point  Terrace  the  water  is  56  feet  deep;  near  the  mouth  of  Martin  Creek  tlic 

'."  is  from  25  to  30  feet  in  depth.  A  large  number  of  chinooks  remain  in  tlitse 
places  (or  are  thought  to,  at  least)  until  they  become  red  and  distorted.  They  seem 
to  be  very  inactive.  Gill  nets  set  near  these  places  catch  very  few.  Fishermen  sny 
that  as  soon  as  the  first  fall  rains  come  and  the  water  in  the  river  freshens  up  a  little 
the  fish  become  very  active  and  are  easily  caught  in  large  numbers.  No  special  edint 
is  ever  made  to  catch  the  chinooks  from  Point  Terrace  to  head  of  tide  after  about 
the  loth  of  October.  Many  of  those  taken  after  this  date  are  so  white-meated  that 
they  ar>  worth  not  over  5  cents  each,  and  tliey  are  usually  thrown  overboard  by  tlit' 
fishermen.  Some  fishermen  think  that  many  chinooks  spawn  on  the  margins  of  these 
deeper  holes,  but  there  is  no  positive  evidence  of  this  further  than  that  late  in  the 
fishing  season  a  few  ripe  females  are  caught  near  or  in  these  deep  boles. 

October  28  and  29,  just  after  the  first  important  fall  rains,  about  50  chviiooks  w»Me 
caught  near  Mapleton,  which  was  the  largest  catch  at  this  place  daring  the  season. 
A  few  of  these  were  ripe  and  others  nearly  so.  These  fish  were  evidently  just  leaving 
the  deep  hole  near  the  mouth  of  Murtin  Creek  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  below 
Mapleton.    The  larger  portion  of  this  catch  was  rejected  by  the  cannery. 

The  fall  rains  not  only  increase  the  amount  of  water  in  the  river  and  freshen  tlie 
lower  portion  of  the  stream,  but  they  also  lower  the  tehipcluturo  of  the  water.  Tliese 
are  doubtless  the  main  factors  causing  the  salmon  to  leave  the  d'.sep  holes  and  resume 
their  run  upstream. 

Salmon  ordinarily  reach  their  spawning-grounds  before  they  are  rii)e,  but  there  is 
considerable  evidence  that  they  sometimes  do  not  enter  the  river  until  almost  ripe. 
Mr.  Leonard  Christianson  did  considerable  surf  fishing  in  November,  18!>5,  ami 
informed  us  that  he  caught  a  few  ripe  chinooks  then.  Eggs  were  forced  from  them 
while  the  fish  were  dying  on  the  shore.    Tliis,  however,  is  probably  unusual. 

The  North  Fork  being  a  much  smaller  stream  than  the  main  river  and  comparatively 
few  white  men  fishing  on  it,  it  seemed  that  it  was  of  very  little  importance  as  a  fisliin;' 
stream.  Late  in  October  it  was  learned  tlnit  many  chinooks  were  spawning  all  alon.u 
the  stream  above  tide  water.  On  October  23  and  24  the  North  Fork  was  examined 
for  some  distance  both  above  and  below  Minerva.  The  water  was  so  stained  tinit 
salmon  could  be  seen  only  in  shallow  water  on  the  gravel  bars.  These  when  frightened 
by  our  approach  at  once  disappeared  in  deep  water.  A  few  were  much  mutilated  and 
in  a  dying  condition;  in  fact,  all  seen  were  more  or  less  mutilated.  North  Fork, 
though  not  a  large  stream,  has  from  tide  water  to  a  distance  of  about  S  miles  abo\e 
a  number  of  excellent  spawning  beds,  and  all  showed  much  evidence  of  having  been 
so  used  this  year.  0!i  the  26th  of  October  about  17  chinooks  were  cauglit.  all  sp(  nt 
fish  and  all  more  or  less  mutilated.    As  these  spawning-beds  are  only  about  8  to  Ki 


I 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN   IN    1896. 


53 


ome  of  tlie 
commence 
Septeinhcr 
lutil  ab(Mit 
of  August, 
Btober.  Ill 
st  of  Octo 
iuing  for  a 

1  Creek  tlic 
in  iu  tlicse 
They  seciii 
lerinen  say 
?  up  a  little 
)ecial  eHort 
ifter  about 
leated  that 
sard  by  tlie 
ins  of  tlicsc 
late  :u  tlie 

i*iooks  woie 
the  season. 
iust  leaviii;: 
mile  bt'ldw 

fresbei)  tlie 
ter.  Hifso 
and  resuiiii' 

but  there  is 
almost  liiic. 
,  18!>5,  ami 
i  from  tlu'iii 
al. 

inpar<ativt'ly 
as  a  flsliiii;; 
ng  all  aloii^ 
18  examiiH'il 
itained  tliat 
ufrighteiiid 
utilated  ainl 
'Torth  Fork, 
miles  above 
having  bciii 
lit,  all  spt  nt 
bout  8  to  1(1 


miles  from  the  sea,  the  mutilations  exhibited  could  not  have  been  incurred  while  on 
tlicir  way  from  the  sea,  but  were  received  on  the  spawning-beds.  Several  dead  ones 
were  seen,  and  many  others  were  so  weak  and  injured  that  recovery  was  not  believed 
possible. 

On  October  2.'{  and  24  at  least  50  chinooks  were  seen  on  8i)awning-bed8.  On  all 
of  these  the  fins  were  considerably  frayed,  while  most  of  them  were  badly  mutilated 
and  covered  with  fungus.  A  few  were  so  far  gone  that  we  captured  them  by  wading 
in  the  water  and  catching  them  by  the  tails. 

The  seals  collect  in  large  numbers  during  the  salmon  run  on  the  bar  at  the  mouth 
of  Siuslaw  River.  Some  enter  the?  river  and  are  seen  nearly  lialf  way  to  Mapleton. 
They  are  regarded  as  being  destructive  to  the  lishing  interests,  both  by  destroying 
large  numbers  (»f  fishes  and  preventing  many  more  from  entering  the  river.  These 
seals  are  regarded  by  the  fishermen  as  by  far  the  worst  enemj'  of  the  salmon. 

The  run  of  silver  salmon  began  later.  The  first  examples  were  taken  about  Sep- 
tember 10,  but  they  did  not  appear  in  any  considerable  numbers  until  about  a  week 
later.  From  that  date  they  continued  pretty  evenly  until  the  20th  of  October,  after 
which  they  appeared  in  much  larger  numbers.  They  were  still  abundant  on  November 
7,  when  a  sudden  rise  in  the  river  washed  away  many  of  the  nets  and  practically  put 
a  stop  to  all  fishing  for  the  season. 

The  importance  of  the  salmon  fishery  of  the  Siuslaw  River  for  each  year  since  its 
beginning  in  1889  is  shown  in  the  table  which  follows.  For  convenience  of  reference 
the  salmon  taken  iu  Tsiltcoos  (Ten-mile)  Oreek  are  included. 


Ye»r. 

Siuslaw  River, 

North  Forl<. 

Tsiltcoos 
Creek- 
silvor. 

Chinook. 

Silver. 

Chinook. 

Silver. 

1880          

9,000 
6,500 
16,  500 
7,  000 
4,000 
1,300 
4,  200 
4,378 

62,340 
41,  320 
23,  450 
86,  340 
78,  430 
84,642 
69,  454 
57,  000 

4,000 
2,340 
6,800 
3,050 
1,100 
1,  234 
1,600 
2,100 

16.  432 

9,  320 
2, 100 
13,460 
12,000 
6,  7..2 
4,340 
4,650 

8,000 

(«) 

(a) 

C) 
fi,  300 
4,870 
8,  200 
1,578 

1800 

1891              

1802          

1893 

1894          .                           .... 

1895 

1896 

TutuU 

52, 878 

502,973 

22,224 

69,044 

27,948 

a  Did  not  tish. 

From  this  it  appears  that  the  total  number  of  chiuook  salmon  from  the  Siuslaw 
River  and  the  North  Fork  handled  by  the  canneries  in  the  eight  years  was  75,102  fish, 
oil,:$01,632  jiounds.  Mr.  Kyle  estimates  that  this  amount  should  be  increased  by 
one-sixth,  to  cover  the  number  salted  or  shipped  away.  This  would  give  87,019  fish, 
or  1,518,750  pounds.  The  total  number  of  silver  salmon  handled  during  the  same 
period  was  599,905  fish,  or  5,429,675  pounds;  increased  by  one  sixth  for  fish  salted  or 
otherwise  utilized,  the  total  becomes  (!99,9,j9  fish,  or  0,334,620  pounds.  The  number 
of  silver  salmon  taken  in  the  outlet  of  Tahkenitch  Lake  (Five-mile  Oreek)  is  said  to 
iiave  averaged  about  5,000  flsli  i)er  year  for  the  last  three  years. 

(knulitioH  of  «tt/»iOH.— The  chinooks  caught  in  the  Siuslaw  River  are  not  so  fat  as 
tliose  caught  in  the  Columbia.  This  is  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  the  Siuslaw  has 
only  a  fall  run.    In  any  river  the  spiing  run  is  always  better  than  the  fall  run;  the 


64 


BULLETIN   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


early  spring  run  is  better  than  tlie  late  spring  run,  and  the  early  fall  better  than  tlic 
late  fall  run.  The  condition  of  tlie  salmon  depends  on  the  length  of  time  he  remains 
in  fresh  water  before  spawning.  Those  whose  sexual  organs  are  the  least  developid 
have  redder  and  fatter  flesl  nd  these  are  the  ones  which  must  remain  in  fresh  water 
the  longest  time  before  spawning. 

Salmon  taking  the  hook. — Fishermen  hold  different  opinions  as  to  why  salmon  take 
the  book,  some  regarding  it  simply  as  due  to  the  pugnacious  disposition  of  the  fisli 
others  as  showing  a  playful  disposition.    Both  males  and  females  will  take  the  hook. 
The  baited  hook  falling  near  them  or  the  silvery  s{)0(in  i)as8ing  rapidl    by  no  doubt 
produces  an  involuntary  impulse  on  the  part  of  the  lish  to  seize  it. 

The  Siuslaic  hatchery. — This  hatchery  is  at  Mnpleton,  Oregon,  on  the  Siuslaw 
River,  about  26  miles  above  its  mouth,  or  1 J  miles  below  the  head  of  tide  water.  TIk; 
building  is  about  300  feet  from  the  river  and  is  supplied  with  water  by  gravity  from 
a  small  si)riug  brook,  which  flows  within  liOO  feet  of  the  building.  Tliis  sui)ply  is 
abundant  and  of  good  quality.  As  there  was  no  rack  in  the  river,  lisli  for  spawninj^ 
purposes  could  be  obtained  only  at  the  seiningground  near  Acme,  about  10  jiiiics 
below  Mapleton.  The  method  followed  was  to  retain  the  iish  in  live-boxes  until  tlicy 
were  ready  to  spawn.  Special  boxes  were  built  for  tliis  purpose,  the  fish  put  in  thoiii 
at  the  seiningground,  then  they  were  floated  on  the  tide  up  to  Mapleton,  where  they 
were  tied  until  the  fish  were  utilized. 

The  first  live-box  was  "juilt  September  17.  It  was  made  "0  feet  long,  10  feet  wide, 
and  4i  feet  deep.  The  frame  work  was  made  of  3  by  (!  material;  to  this  were  nailed 
hc-izontally  1  by  4  strips,  with  interspaces  of  about  '2h  inches.  The  lumber  used  was 
undressed.  This  box  will  hereafter  be  referred  to  as  Box  No.  1.  On  September  III 
Box  No.  2  was  built,  16  by  8  by  4J  feet.  This  box  diflered  fron)  No.  1  only  in  beinji 
made  out  of  boards  6  and  8  inches  Avide  instead  of  4  inches,  and  in  having  the  inter- 
spaces narrower.  These  were  not  more  than  2  inches  wide  anywhere,  and  near  tiie 
top  of  the  sides  no  interspaces  were  left,  the  first  two  or  three  being  placed  against 
each  other.  On  September  21  Box  No.  3  was  built,  not  diflering  in  any  way  from  Box 
No.  2.  On  the  Ist  of  October  Box  No.  4  was  built.  It  was  made  of  dressed  lumber 
and  was  20  by  6|  by  4i  feet.  Care  was  taken  to  have  this  box  as  smooth  inside  as  pos 
sible,  so  that  the  lish  might  not  become  injured  in  any  way  on  account  of  contact  witli 
the  box. 

The  account  of  the  experiments  with  each  of  these  boxes  is  given  with  considerable 
detail,  in  order  that  the  nature  of  the  work  and  the  conditions  under  which  it  was 
done  may  be  fully  under8t(X)d.  On  September  18, 4;{  chinook  salmon  were  placed  in 
Box  No.  1.  They  were  obtained  from  the  seines  aiul  carried  in  sacks  a  few  feet  to  ii 
small  live-box,  in  which  they  were  floated  to  No.  1.  The  next  day  48  more  salmon  were 
placed  in  this  box.  On  September  21,  47  salmon  were  placed  in  No.  2,  and  the  next 
day  22  fish  were  put  into  No.  3,  to  which  6  more  were  added  on  the  morning  of  tlie 
23d.  These  three  boxes,  with  91,  47,  and  28  fish,  resjjectively,  were  lashed  together 
and  were  started  drifting  up  the  river  with  the  tide.  This  tide  carried  them  upstream 
about  7^  miles, or  about  J  mile  below  McLeod's  wharf.  Here  the  boxes  were  taken  in 
tow  by  the  steamer  Lillian  and  brought  to  McLeod's  wiiarf.  The  next  day  they  were 
drifted  to  Point  Terrace,  a  distance  of  about  li\  miles,  and  on  the  following  night  they 
were  drifted  2^  miles  farther  to  Hartley's  wharf.  The  next  day,  the  2r)th,  they  were 
drifted  1^  miles  farther,  which  brought  them  within  %  mile  of  Mapleton.    They  were 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMBIA   KIVEK    BASIN    IN    1896. 


55 


r  than  tlic 

k;  remains 

(levelopi'd 

iesh  water 

iliiioTi  take 
nf  tlie  fisli 
the  bodk. 
•J  no  (loi.bt 

10  Siuslaw 
ator.     The 

ivity  from 
i  su])ply  is 
■  spawning 
it  10  miles 

until  tliey 
lilt  ill  tlieiii 
where  tliey 

)  feet  wide, 
I'ere  naiieil 
ir  used  was 
ptember  I!) 
y  in  bein;i 
g  the  inter- 
1(1  near  tlie 
;ed  against 
y  from  Ijox 
sed  lumber 
side  as  pos- 
ontact  witii 

onsiderabic 
liicli  it  was 
e  placed  in 
iw  feet  to  a 
alnioii  were 
id  the  next 
iiing  of  tlie 
sd  together 
n  upstream 
re  taken  in 
r  they  were 

night  they 
,  they  were 

They  were 


tied  up  liere  until  the  27th,  when  the  Lillian  took  them  in  tow  and  brought  them  to 
the  Maiileton  wharf,  where  they  were  kept  until  the  fish  were  spawned. 

Three  fish  were  placed  rn  Box  No.  4  on  the  evening  of  October  1,  and  2!t  more  were 
added  the  next  moriung.  This  box  was  set  drifting  on  the  evening  of  October  2. 
The  fish  were  ciuite  restless,  jumping  and  striking  against  the  top  of  the  box  in  efforts 
to  get  out.  After  floating  about  1^  miles  this  box  was  tied  up  for  the  night.  That 
evening  it  was  covered  with  spruce  boughs,  so  as  to  darken  it  and  at  the  same  time  to 
cause  it  to  float  lower  in  the  water.  The  next  morning  it  was  drifted  to  within  half  a 
mile  of  McLeod's  wharf,  or  about  0  miles.  The  box  was  anchored  here  until  the  even- 
ing flood  tide,  when  it  was  drifted  to  McLeod's  wharf  and  tied  up.  The  next  day  it 
was  drifted  about  0^  miles  to  Hartley's  wharf,  anr"  on  the  day  following  it  was  floated 
to  within  half  a  mile  of  Mapleton,  to  which  jilace  it  was  taken  on  the  next  tide  ou  the 
morning  of  October  fi.  It  was  tied  in  a  inote'  ted  place  in  the  river  opposite  Mapleton, 
where  it  was  not  subject  to  the  disturbance  *  to  which  the  other  three  were  liable.  On 
October  8  two  more  salmon,  which  had  been  canght  in  a  gill  net  near  by,  were  placed 
in  this  box,  thus  increasing  the  number  to  34.  Kxceiit  during  the  first  evening  the 
fish  in  this  box  remained  (piiet  and  showed  no  signs  of  restlessness  under  the  restraint . 
Boxes  1,  2,  and  3  were  tied  t  the  piling  at  the  upper  end  of  the  wharf  at  Mapleton. 
The  fish  were  here  occasionally  disturbed  by  persons  coming  about  the  boxes  or  step 
ping  upon  them ;  whether  this  really  increased  the  mortalicy  or  not  can  not  be  certainly 
stated,  but  it  seems  reasonable  to  believe  that  it  would  prove  detrimental  to  the  tisii. 

Au  unusually  low  tide  on  October  15  left  Box  No.  .'}  about  one-third  out  of  water. 
This  seemed  to  distress  the  (ish,  and  may  have  caused  some  injury.  I'uring  the  latter 
l)art  of  October  about  12  more  fish  were  put  in  No.  1.  These  had  been  caught  in  the 
gill  nets  at  Mapleton. 

The  total  number  of  fish  which  were  experimented  with  was  as  follows:  In  Box 
No.  1,  103;  in  No.  2,  17;  in  No.  3,  2S;  in  No.  4,  34.  No  accurate  record  was  kept  of 
the  number  of  each  sex,  but  at  least  three  fifths  of  the  tc^tal  number  were  females. 

The  mortality  among  the  fish  in  these  dift'erent  boxes  is  shown  in  the  following 
tabular  statement : 


Late. 
Sept  1!4             ...  ....•....■>•• 

UoxXu.  I. 

Bos  No.  2. 

Bos  No.  3. 

Box  No.  4. 

12 

4 
4 
2 

(8) 

(8) 

8 

6 

8 

'           !           1 

25                                

i                      1 

20 

1 

27                                

(3) 

Oct.  lt«5                  

6  to  \'l  

4 

3 

i;)  to  le             

17  to2:t  

6 
« 

24  to  27 

2 

80 
58 

18 
38 

12 
42 

4 

12 

After  the  taking  of  spawn  began,  October  2(5,  the  fish  were  shifted  about  from  one 
box  to  another,  and,  though  a  few  continued  to  die,  no  aceurafe  record  was  kept.  The 
mortality  was  greatest  in  No.  1  and  least  in  No.  4.  The  crowded  condition  of  the  fish 
in  No.  1  was  doubtless  a  feature  which  contributed  to  the  loss. 

After  October  20,  when  spawn  faking  began,  the  fish  were  shifted  about  from  box 
to  box,  and  it  was  therefore  impossible  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  the  number  dying 


p 


56 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


in  each  as  originally  apportioned.  The  total  number  that  died  after  October  27,  how 
ever,  was  18,  and  on  November  15  a  sudden  rise  in  the  river  broke  open  box  No.  1 
and  30  lish  escaped.  The  total  loss,  therefore,  was  112  dead  and  30  escaped.  The  70 
which  were  left  were  spawned.  Of  this  number,  3(5  were  females  and  34  males;  to 
this  number  should  be  added  8  females  and  8  nmles  taken  from  tlic  gill  nets  at  Mapleton : 
these  80  (44  females  and  42  males)  were  spawned  at  different  times  between  October 
2(5  and  November  1').  The  total  number  of  eggs  taken  is  stated  by  Mr.  L.  E.  Beau  Ui 
have  been  217,000. 

An  examination  of  a  great  maiiy  of  the  lish  which  died  showed  that  some  liaii 
received  internal  injuries  which  probably  caused  tlieir  death.  Others  which  showed 
no  internal  injuries  exhibited  severe  bruises  which  doubtless  hastened  their  death. 

Particular  pains  were  taken  with  the  lish  in  Box  No.  4.  Care  was  taken  in 
handling  them  when  they  were  Hrst  placed  in  the  box.  The  box  had  been  constructed 
vith  unusual  care  by  making  it  smooth  inside  and  placing  the  boards  close  togethci-. 
'^o  as  to  admit  but  little  light,  and  it  was  anchored  at  Mapleton  in  a  secluded  place 
here  the  fish  were  subjected  to  the  minimum  amount  of  disturbance.  As  a  result,  u 
higher  percenta»re  of  success  was  attained  with  this  box  than  with  the  others.  With 
Nos.  1,  2,  and  3  i  o  principal  factors  which  were  detrimental  were  the  following: 

1.  Too  many  fish  were  put  in  each,  resulting  in  too  close  crowding. 

2.  The  interspaces  were  too  wide,  thus  letting  in  too  much  light  and  making  the 
fish  more  restless. 

3.  The  rough  surfaces  on  the  inside  of  these  boxes  caused  injuries  to  the  fish 
striking  against  them. 

4.  Some  of  the  fish  were  not  handled  with  proper  care  when  jdaced  in  the  boxes. 

5.  During  the  interval  between  the  arrival  of  th^se  boxes  at  Mapleton  and  the 
spawning  of  the  fish  they  were  kept  in  a  place  where  the  fish  were  subjected  to  some 
annoyance. 

If  the  fish  in  these  three  boxes  had  been  treated  with  the  same  care  and  attention 
as  was  bestowed  upon  Bex  No.  4,  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  measure  of  success  would 
have  been  greatly  increased.  Of  the  217,000  eggs  taken  Mr.  Beau  reports  that  ho 
hatched  and  successfully  liberated  180,000. 

CondmionH. — These  experiments  seem  to  demonstrate  that  it  is  entirely  practi- 
cable to  retain  salmon  intended  for  spawning  purposes  for  a  period  of  at  least  six 
weeks  iu  properly  constructed  live-boxes,  but  in  order  to  operate  Siuslaw  hatchery 
with  the  best  results,  particular  attention  should  be  given  to  the  following  details: 

1.  The  boxes  should  be  constructed  with  as  much  care  as  possible.  They  should 
be  made  smooth  inside.  No  interspaces  should  be  left  in  the  tup  uor  in  the  u))per  third 
or  half  of  the  sides  and  ends,  and  those  elsewhere  should  not  exceed  2  or  3  inches  in 
width.    It  is  also  desirable  that  the  boxes  be  made  (5  to  8  feet  deep  instead  of  4J  feet. 

2.  It  will  prove  advantageous  to  get  as  large  a  proportion  as  itossible  of  the  flsh 
desired  toward  the  close  of  the  run,  as  they  will  be  more  nearly  ripe  and  will  not  have 
to  be  kept  so  loug  in  the  boxes.  It  is  also  believed  that  these  fish  are  not  so  restless 
in  the  boxes  as  are  tho.se  caught  earlier  in  the  run. 

3.  The  fish  should  be  handled  carefully  when  placing  them  in  the  boxes,  so  that 
they  may  not  receive  any  serious  bruises. 

4.  Too  many  fish  should  not  be  placed  in  any  one  box.  In  our  judgment  eac,h  flsh 
should  be  allowed  at  least  20  cubic  feet  of  space. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN    IN    1896. 


67 


TSILTCOOS  AND   WHOAHINK   LAKES,  OREGON. 

The  iiiveatiffatioii  of  these  lakes  was  undertaken  in  response  to  a  petition  signed 
by  numerous  citizens  living  in  their  immediate  vicinity  and  addressed  to  the  United 
States  Commission  of  Fish  and  Fisheries  under  date  of  June  !.'{,  liSOO.  The  petitioners 
iisked  that  Tsiltcoos  Lake  be  stocked  with  black  bass  and  that  a  j)lant  of  brook  trout 
he  made  in  Whoahink  Lake.  To  determine  the  advisability  of  complying  with  these 
requests,  Dr.  Meek  was  directed  to  make  an  examination  of  these  lakes,  particularly 
ill  regard  to  tiie  following  points: 

1.  Are  these  waters  suitable  as  to  temperature,  quality,  and  food  supply  for  the 
species  requested  ? 

2.  Wonld  the  introduction  of  these  species  have  any  detrimental  ettect  ui)on  the 
food  or  game  fishes  native  to  those  waters  or  to  waters  into  which  the  introduced 
species  might  spread? 

3.  Would  the  species  which  it  is  proposed  to  introduce  probably  thrive  so  well  as 
to  afford,  after  a  few  years,  better  lishing  than  is  now  furnished  by  the  native  specvies! 

Three  visits  were  made  by  Dr.  Meek  to  these  lakes,  the  first  on  October  7  and  8, 
when  only  Tsiltcoos  Lake  was  seen ;  the  next  October  15  to  10,  during  which  time 
considerable  work  was  done  on  each  of  the  lakes;  the  third  trip  November  28  to 
December  7,  when  the  lakes  were  examined  carefully  and  extensive  collections  made. 

The  conclusion  reached  from  a  study  of  the  conditions  obtaining  at  these  lakes  is 
tli;\t  it  is  not  advisable  for  the  Commission  to  stock  them  with  black  bass  or  brook 
trout.  The  planting  of  black  bass  in  Tsiltcoos  Lake  would  prove  detrimental  to  the 
silver-salmon  fishery  carried  ou  in  the  outlet  of  that  lake,  and  the  pntbability  that 
ilie  bass  would  in  time  spread  to  the  Siuslaw  and  the  Umpqua  is  too  great  to  warrant 
the  risk.  As  to  placing  brook  trout  in  Whoahink  Lake,  it  is  not  believed  that  that 
species  would  ever  become  so  well  establis^hed  as  to  afford  better  fishing  than  the 
native  species  supplies.  These  lakes  are  already  abundantly  supplied  with  a  native 
trout  which  attains  a  weight  of  2  pounds  or  more,  which  possesses  excellent  game 
qualities,  aud  whose  tlesh  is  firm  and  sweet.  If  these  trout  are  properly  protected, 
tliereis  no  reason  why  Whoahink  Lake  should  not  become  au  important  fishing-resort. 

The  detailed  report  upon  these  lakes  follows: 

TSlLT(;OOS   ANT)   OTHER   LAKES. 

Between  the  mouths  of  the  Siuslaw  and  Umpqua  rivers,  and  almost  bordering 
tlie  sand  hills  along  the  shore,  are  three  large  lakes  and  a  few  small  ones.  The  inves- 
tigations were  restricted  to  the  large  lakes;  these  lie  in  a  line  parallel  with  the  ocean 
beach  and  comprise  at  least  three-fourths  of  the  distance  between  the  Siusbi  iV  and 
Cmpqua  rivers.  They  are  quite  peculiar  on  account  of  their  great  irregularity  in 
outline.     The  amount  of  shore  line  as  compared  with  the  area  of  each  is  very  great. 

Whoahink  Lake,  or  Clear  Lake,  as  it  is  more  commonly  known,  is  about  2  miles 
trom  the  Siuslaw  Elver  at  Glenada.  This  lake  is  very  irregular  in  outline  and  deei)er 
than  the  other  two.  Except  a  small  portion  in  the  southwest  corner,  it  is  surrounded 
by  hills  from  50  to  about  200  f-^et  in  height.  The  hills  immediately  surrounding  the 
lake  are  c(Uiiposed  of  a  soft,  irregularly  stratified  sandstone,  and  evidently  of  a  nuu'h 
newer  formation  than  the  higher  hills  to  the  southeast.  The  inlets  are  only  ravines, 
some  of  which  contain  many  small  springs.    The  points  of  land  projecting  into  the 


58 


BULLETIN   OP   THE   UNITKD   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


lake  are  beiiiR  quite  rapidly  worn  away  by  roiiKli  water,  forming  blurts.  The  surfiK  <• 
of  the  lake  at  one  time  wa.s  sonu'what  lower  than  at  present;  this  is  evident  from  the 
fact  that  on  a  shoal  place  on  the  east  side  (near  the  middle  of  section  14)  stumps  ii 
trees  are  seen  some  10  feet  below  the  surface.  The  former  outlet  of  tli(^  lake  was  into 
the  outlet  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake.  A  few  years  ago  this  outlet  became  closed  by  shiftiiij.', 
sand,  causing  the  water  to  rise  in  tlie  lake  at  least  ()  feet  above  its  present  level.  \ 
new  outlet,  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of  the  old  one,  was  dug  to  Tsiltcoos  LaKc 
some  four  or  five  years  ago.  The  new  outlet  was  not  only  intended  to  lower  the  siii 
face  of  the  lake,  but  to  attord  a  water  power  for  a  sunill  sawmill.  It  has  never  been  so 
used.  The  material  through  which  the  outlet  was  dug  is  "  'ine  clay,  so  compact  tlnit 
it  erodes  very  slowly.  In  the  extreme  ends  of  the  arms  oi'  the  lake  are  some  t'lles 
and  small  areas  of  other  watcr-i)laiit8. 

The  surface  of  Whoahink  Lake  is  about  15  to  20  feet  above  that  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake, 
from  which  it  is  less  than  half  a  mile  distant.  The  timber  on  the  hills  bordering  the 
lake  was  nearly  ail  destroyed  l>y  fire  some  sixty  years  ago.  It  is  being  replaced  by  a 
growth  of  lir, alder,  hemlock,  maple, rhododendron, huckleberry, and  a  vigorous  growth 
of  ferns.  To  the  west  and  bordering  the  sand  hills  about  half  a  mile  distant  from  tlie 
lake  are  many  bull  i)ines.  The  shore  was  everywhere  so  snaggy  that  a  seine  could  imt 
be  used  and  our  collecting  a|)paratus  consisted  only  of  gill  nets  and  trot  lines.  This 
lake  is  reported  as  having  very  few  fishes  in  it,  and  our  experience  confirms  this  view. 
The  water  is  clear,  though  much  less  so  than  in  the  mountain  lakes  of  Idaho;  tin* 
depth  is  usually  from  30  to  78  feet.  The  water  is  not  very  cold,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  following  recorded  temperatures: 


Uate. 

Hour. 

Tem. 

per- 

atiire 

uf  nir. 

Temperatiirn  uf  water. 

Sur- 
face. 

Depth. 

Bot- 
turn. 

1896. 
Ort.  18 
18 
19 
19 
19 

4.30  p.m. 

OF. 
63 

op. 
62 

54 
72 
30 
64 
66 

or. 

61 

56 

60 

61.5 

57 

S.Ma.m. 

.58 

61.5 

Tsiltcoos  lake  is  larger  and  more  irregular  than  Whoahink  Lake.  The  main  body 
of  the  lake  is  about  2  miles  in  extent  from  north  to  south,  and  1  to  2  miles  from  cast 
to  west.  It  is  also  supi)lied  with  several  arms,  usually  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  wido 
and  from  ^  to  1^  miles  long  and  extending  in  ditt'erent  directions.  Tsiltcoos  Lake  is 
comparatively  shallow.  In  summer  its  greatest  depth  is  about  17  feet,  its  averaj;'' 
deptli  being  from  10  to  11  feet.  During  the  rainy  season  tlie  water  is  from  0  to  10 
feet  deeper.  The  bottom  is  a  soft,  black  mud,  like  tliat  of  Whoahink  and  Tahkenitcli 
lakes.  Except  at  a  few  intervals  the  shore  is  bordered  by  a  rich  growth  of  tides,  in 
the  shallow  portions  around  the  shore  the  tules  extend  into  the  lake  about  a  fourth  of 
a  mile.  There  is  also  considerable  swamp  vegetation  in  and  about  the  tules.  Tlic 
surrounding  country  is  (juite  similar  to  that  around  Whoahink.  On  the  east,  and  at 
one  point  on  the  south,  are  bluft's  of  a  dark,  compact  sandstone  of  much  older  formation 
than  the  bluffs  around  Whoahink  Lake.  There  are  also  two  timbered  islands  in  this 
lake,  composed  of  this  older  sandstone;  the  larger  is  about  half  a  mile  long  and  about 
an  eighth  of  a  mile  wide.  That  portion  of  the  country  bordering  the  lake  on  the  soiit  h 
and  southwest  was  not  burnt  over  during  the  big  fire  of  about  sixty  years  ago. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COLUMUIA    KIVKR   HASIN    IN    1KU6. 


59 


Tsiltcoos  Lake  Iisih  two  inlets,  (i  to 8  miles  loiij,',  iMiiple  Creek  af  the  iioitlieast  iiiid 
TsilteooH  Creek  to  the  southeast  eonier  of  tiie  lake,  lii  siiuiiiier  these  are  little  more 
than  small  brooks,  but  during  the  rainy  season  they  beeome  niueh  swollen  and  atVord 
a  spawning-gnmnd  for  many  silver  salmon,  and  possibly  a  few  others,  which  enter  tlie 
hike.  It  is  said  tliat  about  0  or  7  years  ago  many  more  salmon  spawned  in  Mai)le 
Creek  than  at  present. 

The  outlet  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake  is  quite  small,  especially  so  in  summer  and  at  low  tide, 
(iill  nets  are  put  across  the  outlet  at  low  tide  and  are  so  anchored  and  staked  down 
that  it  is  quite  impossible  for  silver  salmon,  except  the  smaller  ones,  to  pass  them. 

October  17  a  number  of  soundings  and  temperatures  were  taken  in  Tsiltcoos 
Lake.  The  temperature  of  the  air  at  W.lii  a.  m.  was  50° ;  that  of  the  bottom  in  various 
parls  of  the  lake,  at  depths  from  7  to  17  feet,  varied  from  .W,.")''  to  ~>0.5^, 

Tsiltcoos  Creek  (Ten-mile  Creek),  the  outlet  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake,  is  nbout  5  miles 
long,  while  the  distance  from  the  lake  to  the  ocean  in  a  direct  line  is  about  2  miles.  At 
low  tiilc  in  summer  there  is  barely  water  enough  in  the  outlet  to  float  a  small  tlat- 
hottom  boat.  At  high  tide  the  water  in  the  outlet  for  its  entire  length  is  brackish. 
There  is  some  commercial  fishing,  though  the  fishing  season  is  short  (this  year  from 
October  10  to  about  November  5).  Many  silver  salmon  enter  the  lake,  as  is  evidenced 
by  the  number  caught  in  our  small  gill  nets.  Fishermen  report  that  salmon  ;re  often 
stranded  on  the  beacii.  About  100  silver  salmon,  (he  first  catch  of  the  present  season, 
were  brought  to  the  cannery  on  October  l.'J.  There  is  no  reliable  evidence  that  blue- 
hack  salmon  are  ever  found  in  this  lake  or  its  outlet,  and  only  an  occasional  chinook 
js  found.  On  October  l(i  and  17  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  this  creek  at  low  tide  com- 
pletely closed  the  outlet.  This  prevented  salmon  from  entering  and  none  had  l»een 
taken  since  October  1.').  The  fishermen  were  watching  the  surf  closely  to  see  if  many 
salmon  were  near  sliore.  Ordimirily,  if  the  bar  is  closed  and  many  fishes  are  seen  iu 
the  surf,  the  fishermen  resort  to  surf  fishing  until  after  the  bar  is  opened. 

Tahkeniti'h,  or  Five-mile,  Lake  is  very  irregular  in  outline.  Its  greatest  length 
fiom  north  to  south  is  about  U  miles;  east  to  west  about  the  same  distance.  This 
lake  consists  of  four  large  arms  whose  general  directions  are  with  the  four  cardinal 
])oints.  The  eastern  arm  is  the  longest,  the  western  the  shortest,  while  the  other  two 
are  about  equal  in  length.  The  width  of  these  arms  varies  from  about  one-eighth 
to  three- (luarters  of  a  mile.  In  the  mouth  of  ''e  smallest  arm  is  a  small  timbered 
island. 

Tahkenitch  Lake  does  not  lie  in  the  burnt  region.  The  hills  surrounding  it  rise 
abruptly  to  a  height  of  usually  about  KM)  feet,  and  are  covered  by  a  dense  growth  of 
tall  tir  trees  of  al)out  1^  to  li  feet  in  diameter.  In  the  extreme  end  of  the  arms  and 
in  a  few  other  places  along  the  shore  are  found  tales  and  other  water  vegetation  similar 
to  that  in  Tsiltcoos  Lake.  The  bottom  of  the  lake  is  a  soft,  black  mud,  like  that  found 
iu  the  two  other  lakes.    The  dei)th  is  very  uniform,  being  from  10  to  22  feet. 

Five-mile  Creek,  the  outlet  of  T  >hkenitch  Lake,  has  its  origin  in  the  distal  end  of 
the  westerii  arm,  its  ui)per  end  being  shout  1  mile  from  the  ocean.  Its  total  length  is 
about  twice  this  distance.  The  sand  hills  extend  almost  to  the  lake.  The  isthmus 
separating  Tahkenitch  and  Tsiltcoos  lakes  is  rather  low  and  narrow.  ISo  far  as  we 
could  learn,  the  commercial  fishing  on  Five-mile  Creek  is  very  similar  to  'hat  on 
Ten  mile  Creek.  The  catch  has  amounted,  according  to  1  Ion.  A.  W.  Reed,  of  Gardiner, 
to  an  average  of  5,000  silver  salmon  for  each  of  the  past  three  years. 


60 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITt'D   STATES   FIS'.i   COMMIBDIOr 


UPPKR  KLAMATH  LAKE,  OREGON. 

In  1880  the  ITiiiled  States  l-'isli  Ooiiimissioii  planted  400,0(M>  whiteflRh  fry  (Con- 
genus  rhtpei/ormis)  in  the  Houthern  end  of  Tiiper  Khuiiath  Lake,  iieai-  Klamath  Falls. 
Ample  time  h.^vjnj,'  elapsed  to  enable  this  species  to  beeome  well  established,  observa 
tioua  were  made  by  Messrs.  Meek  and  Alexander  for  the  purpose  of  determining  tin- 
result  of  the  plant. 

Pelican  Bay  was  reached  on  the  evening  of  October  31,  and  work  was  carried  on 
in  the  upptr  part  of  the  lake  until  November  7,  when  the  camp  was  moved  to  the  lou  «i 
end  of  the  lake  near  the  outlet,  where  the  investigations  were  continued  until  the  lltli. 
During  the  time  spent  at  ♦his  lake  the  weather  was  nnnsually  stormy,  and  it  was 
exceedingly  difficult  to  carry  on  the  investigations  in  a  manner  at  all  satisfactory. 
There  wert  only  two  really  good  days  for  work  during  tlie  entire  time. 

For  the  purpose  of  determining  the  result  of  the  whitefish  plant  gill  uel  s  of  suitable; 
mesh  were  set  in  various  places  iu  Pelican  Ihiy  and  in  the  lower  end  of  the  lake. 
Collections  of  native  fishes  were  also  made,  and  as  much  time  as  imssible  was  given  to 
the  study  of  the  fish-food  8upi)ly  of  the  lake,  which  was  fou'  '  to  be  abundant  and  rich 
in  species  of  Entomostraca,  insect  hirvie,  and  other  invert  e  life. 

The  fisii  life  of  the  lake  does  not  consist  of  many  sj  but  the  Midividuals  of 

several  of  the  species  are  very  numerous.  These  will  be  discussed  fully  in  the  list  ol 
fishes  at  the  end  of  this  report,  but  it  seems  proper  to  call  attention  in  this  connection 
to  the  suckers  and  trout.  There  are  five  or  six  species  of  suckers  iu  this  lake  ami 
each  of  them  attains  a  large  size,  which  renders  them  of  groat  iniportance  to  tlic 
Indians  on  the  Klamath  Reservation.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  during  tlie  spawniii;; 
time  of  these 'fish,  vast  numbers  are  caught  in  traps  and  by  hook  and  line  by  the 
Indians  .»iid  cured  for  future  use. 

TLe  trout  are  also  very  common  and  reach  a  very  large  size.  Trout  weighing  s 
to  10  pounds  are  not  at  all  unusual,  examples  of  10  to  12  pounds  are  nrtt  rare,  ami 
occasionally  one  weighs  as  much  as  14  i)ounds.  Trout  can  be  taken  rea<lily  with  the 
fly  in  the  spring  and  by  trolling  iu  the  spring  and  fall.  In  Pelican  Hay  they  nuiy  he 
taken  by  trolling  at  any  time. 

The  Klamath  lakes  comprise  a  series  of  lakes  which  extend  in  a  north  and-south 
direction  in  southern  Oregon  and  r.ortheru  California.  They  lie  just  east  of  the 
Cascade  Mountaius,  and  are  about  4,300  feet  above  sea  level.  Our  investigations 
were  limited  U)  the  largest  of  these  lakes,  known  as  Upper  Klamath  Lake. 

This  lake  is  about  25  miles  long  and  about  8  miles  in  average  width.  Its  northern 
Lalf  extends  in  a  northwest-and-sontheast  direction,  while  its  southern  half  is  nearly 
due  north  and  south.  It  is  quite  irregular  iu  outline,  having  on  its  western  side  two 
large  bays,  the  upper  of  whicii  forms  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  lake,  and  is 
known  as  Pelican  Bay.  About  2  miles  west  of  Pelican  Bay  is  a  very  large  sjirin;; 
which  forms  a  prominent  creek  emptying  into  the  bay.  The  first  half  mile  of  tiiis 
creek  is  about  oO  to  100  feet  wide  and  from  2  to  8  feet  deep.  After  this  it  widens  onl 
into  a  large  estuary,  half  a  mile  or  more  wide  and  more  than  a  mile  long.  On  the  nort  h 
this  estuary  is  bordered  by  a  hill,  at  the  foot  of  which  the  water  is  as  much  as  17  feet 
deep.  The  rest  of  this  estuary  is  bordered  by  a  rich  growth  of  tules  and  swamp 
grass.  Its  depth,  except  at  the  north  end,  seldom  exceeds  7  feet,  while  the  greater 
portion  is  less  than  6  feet  iu  depth.  There  are,  especially  on  the  east  side  of  this 
estuary,  many  small  narrow  arms  known  as  sloughs.    These  sloughs  are  about  as 


SALMON   INVEPTIGATIONR   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN   IN   1806. 


61 


deep  as  the  estuary,  iiiid  each  supports  a  rich  Rniwtli  nl'  Potomiu/eton,  Mjirioplijillum, 
aixl  FJoilrii.  Tliene  waterpIaiitH  are  also  inoio  <»r  less  alminhint  aloiiR  tin'  water's 
edge  just  inside  the  tales,  hut  are  wan-e  in  the  iiiaiu  hody  of  tin'  entuary.  The  water 
in  Pelican  Creek  and  estuary  is  very  clear,  and  when  it  ia  not  disturhed  the  hottoin 
can  be  ])lainly  seen  everywhere.  The  bottom  of  the  <Teek  and  estuary  is  conipoHed 
of  a  light  tlutt'y  mud,  varying  in  <-olor  from  dark  grayish  to  black. 

The  water  in  the  lake  when  we  Haw  it  was  not  clear.  The  fine  sediment  held  in 
su8penHi(ui  was  no  doubt  picked  up  fron)  the  bottom  during  rough  weather. 

The  northern  jiortion  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake  contains  many  tule  islands,  and  is 
evidently  very  shallow.  Its  shores  north  of  Bare  Island  are  very  marshy.  The  main 
portion  of  the  lake,  or  its  middle  half,  is  bordered  on  each  aide  by  mountains  which 
rise  from  the  water's  edge  to  an  altitude  of  1,(KM>  to  l,rt(K)  fe  "t  above  the  lake,  'toward 
its  southern  end  the  lake  becomes  narrow.  Its  shores  are  mostly  marshy  and  bordered 
by  tnlea  and  willows.  It  also  contains  considerable  water  vegetation,  the  same  as  at 
its  north  end.  There  are  two  ishinds  in  the  lake,  Bare  Island  and  Buck  Island,  each 
al)out  500  feet  high. 

North  of  the  upper  end  of  Upper  Klamath  Lak«!  is  a  large  area  of  tule  marshes, 
t»  to  10  miles  wide  and  10  to  IL'  miles  long.  Lying  in  this  marsh  is  a  small  lake  which 
has  sometimes  been  improperly  called  the  Upper  Klamath  Lake.  It  is  now  regarded 
as  being  only  a  part  of  Upper  Klanmth  Lake.  It  is  about  2  miles  from  the  main  lake 
and  is  about  3  miles  wide  and  0  mih's  long.  Through  this  marsh  tlow  several  small 
streams,  the  principal  ones  being  Sevenmile  Creek  and.  Wood  IJivev.  Williamson 
Uiver,  the  principal  stream  tlowing  into  Upper  Klamath  Lake,  is  of  considerable  size 
and  much  importance  in  its  relations  to  the  fishes  of  the  lake.  About  10  miles  above 
its  mouth  it  receives  from  the  east  a  large  tributary  known  as  Sprague  Uiver.  About 
half  a  mile  above  its  mouth  it  is  125  feet  wide  and  10  feet  deep.  It  Hows  before 
entering  the  lake  through  a  low,  flat,  marshy  plain  covered  with  tules  and  swamp  grass. 
On  the  banks  of  the  river  is  a  rich  growth  of  willows.  The  current  is  very  moderate. 
We  rowed  about  2  miles  or  more  up  the  river  and  noticed  in)  important  change  in  it. 
The  water  in  the  river  was  very  dark,  evidently  stained  to  some  extent  by  vegetation. 

The  small  lake  just  below  Klamath  Falls  is  about  'i  mile  wide  and  2  miles  long. 
This  lake  is  surrounded  by  a  rich  growth  of  tules  and  some  willows.  The  depth  about 
half  a  mile  below  Klamath  Tails  was  15  feet.  On  November  0  the  surface  temperature 
was  42JO;  bottom  temperature  in  15  feet  of  water,  42Jo.  We  set  one  large  and  two 
small  gill  nets  in  this  lake  on  November  9  and  took  them  up  on  November  11,  obtaining 
4  chubs  ( fjeuvincm  bicohn-)  and  2  trout. 

The  outlet  of  U])per  Klamath  Lake  is  Link  Kiver,  a  short  stream  not  over  1| 
miles  long,  consisting  of  a  series  of  rapids  and  falls. 

Upper  Klamath  Lake  is  a  rather  shallow  body  of  water.  The  creek  and  estuary 
at  Pelican  Bay  are  from  2  to  8  feet  deep  in  the  upper  part  and  from  0  to  17  feet  in  the 
lower  portion.  A  line  of  souiHlings  was  run  across  the  mouth  of  the  estuary  and  the 
depth  was  found  to  be  about  5i  feet. 

Pelican  Bay  and  the  north  end  of  the  lake  are  very  shallow.  A  line  of  soundings 
was  run  from  the  mouth  of  the  estuary  of  Pelican  Creek  to  the  mouth  of  Williamson 
River,  and  8  feet  was  the  greatest  depth  found,  while  the  average  was  not  more  than 
OJ  feet.  The  bottom  could  be  easily  seen  anywhere  when  the  surface  of  the  water 
was  smooth.    It  seemed  to  be  composed  of  loose,  decaying  vegetation,  into  which  the 


62 


BULLETIN   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES  FISH   COMMISSION. 


sounding  lead  would  usually  sink  several  inches.  We  were  unable  to  take  any  sound 
ings  in  the  middle  of  the  lake  between  Tare  and  Buck  islands.  While  this  is  doubt  less 
the  deepest  portion,  we  were  informed  that  the  water  even  here  probably  does  not 
exceed  30  or  40  feet  in  depth.  1'he  south  end  of  the  lake  is  a  little  deeper  than  tiie 
upper  portion.  The  grente«t  .tepth  was  found  near  the  outlet  and  was  20  feet.  'J'lic 
portion  8<^uth  of  Buck  Island  will  not  average  more  than  12  or  13  feet  deep. 

The  temperature  observations  made  at  Upper  Klamath  Lake  are  given  in  the  tabh' 
which  folli>ws.  All  tlio  water  temperatures  except  those  at  the  surface  were  taken  :;t 
the  botton\  Owing  to  the  shallowness  of  the  lake  the  temperatu'-e  of  its  Avatei'  is 
everywhere  aflFected  by  that  of  the  air. 


u, 


Date. 


Nov.  2 


Honr. 


StAtioD. 


Tom-  I   Tein- 

p»ir-    I    Depth    \    prr- 

ntiir«of  of  water,  atareof 

uir.  I  water. 


9  II .  m Near  month  of  I'elican  ( 'reek . 

B.20  a.m North  li-ii  i.i  I't^liiau  E.ttuary 

9.2U  a.  Ill IVlican  Buv 

0.20  a.  m <lo 

0.20  a.  ii: do 

8.45  B.  in relican  Creek  near  uprini? 

10.45 n,m I  I't'liran  Estuary 

2.30 p.m I  Veliuan  deck  near giiriiig 

2.30  p.  m j  Pelieau  E'ltuary 

8  a.  Ill '  reilcun  Creek  iiearspriug. 

0  a.  Ill 

10  a.  m  ... . 
10  a.m... 
Noon 


o  F, 
18 


Noon 

12.30  p.  m  . 
J2.;t0  p.  m  . 

1  p.  ni 

1 II.  m 

4  p.  Ill 

4  p.  m 

4.30  p.  m  . . 
4.30 p.m  .. 
4.30  p.  in  . . 
4.30  p.  in  . . 

0  a.  m 

8  a.  m 

3  30 p.m  .. 
3.30  p,  m  . . 


Pelican  tjreek , 

Nortli went  part  of  Pelican  Estuary 

do 

^lamatli  Lake  lietween  Pelican  Bay  and  Wil- 
liainHon  Kivev. 
do 


do. 
do. 
do. 
.do. 


41 


42 
421 


Near  mouth  of  AVillianmon  River 

do I 

Two  miles  aliove  nioutli  of  Williamson  Kiver 

...do 

At  mouth  of  Pelican  Estuary 

do 

Small  Lake  holuw  Klamath  Falls 

do 

South  end  of  Klamath  Lake 

do 


44 


Surface. 
....do  ... 

St  feet.. 

31  feet . . 

5{feet.. 

Surface . 
...do... 

...do... 
....do... 
....do... 
....do... 
...do... 

16  feet . . 

Surface 


o  jr. 
42 
40 


7  feet... 
Surface . 

8  feet . . . 
Surface . 
8  feet... 
Surface , 
10  feet . . 
Surface 
10  feet . 
Surface 
5i  feet . , 
Surface 
15  feet . . 
Surface 
13  feet . 


1 


44 

41 
44 

14^* 
43J 
40} 
4li 
421 

43 

42J 

43 

421 

42' 

42i 

42 

*^J 
42 

.Wi 

40J 

421 

421 

411 
411 


Character  of  bottom. — The  large  area  of  tule  and  marshy  lands  surrounding  tlit' 
lake  has  doubtless  had  much  to  do  in  determining  the  character  of  the  bottom  of  VjiiRr 
Klamath  Lake.  The  lake  is  very  shallow,  and  the  vast  amounts  of  decaying  vegeta- 
tion carried  into  it  and  the  ever-increasing  area  of  tule  lands  render  it  more  sliallnw 
year  by  year.  The  bottom,  where  we  examined  it,  wa.s  composed  of  loose,  disintegnit- 
ing  vegetable  material,  with  no  sandy  or  gravelly  bottom. 

Fishes. — Gill  nets  of  suitable  mesh  were  set  in  this  lake  in  various  places,  chietly  in 
Pelican  Bay  and  in  tlio  lower  end  of  the  lake.  A  good  many  trout  and  chubs  an<l  a 
few  suckers  were  taken,  but  no  whitelish  were  t;aught  and  none  was  seen  anywlicie. 
Inquiry  among  i)eo[)le  at  Klamath  Palls  and  elsewhere  about  the  lake  failetl  to  eliiit 
evidence  that  whitefish  have  ever  been  seen  there  since  the  plant  was  made.  If  is 
to  be  regretted  that  nets  could  not  have  been  set  in  the  middle  jwrtion  of  tlie  lake, 
as  it  is  there  that  lish  would  be  found  if  any  have  survived.  But  when  it  is  consid- 
ered how  shallow  the  lake  is,  how  warm  the  water  probably  becomes  in  summer,  jind 
how  difficult  it  would  be  for  whitefish  to  find  suitable  spawning-beds,  it  is  doubtful  if 
the  eastern  whitefish  would  thrive  in  such  a  lake. 


usmmi 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   COH'MHU    KIVRR    HASIN    IN   1896. 


63 


Advantages  of  a  troiti-cnltunil  station  at  Klamath  Falls. — The  trout  of  Tpper 
Klamath  Lake  are  probably  not  suipassetl  by  any  lake  dweliitig  trout  iu  America  in 
beauty,  size,  gamiiiess,  or  sweetness  atul  delicacy  of  (iavor  Tlitiy  are  txcelhMit  trout 
(o  itropagate  and  plant  in  other  lakes.  Trout  cultural  operations  could  be  carried  on 
lit  some  point  ou  Upper  Klamath  Lake  very  advantageously.  Perhaps  the  besi  loca- 
tion would  be  at  Klamath  Falls,  wliere  all  the  engineering  conditions  are  excellent. 
I'ish  can  bo  obtained  readily  and  in  abundance  at  any  time.  A  station  located  upon 
this  lake  would  be  useful  in  mainhiining  the  sujiply  of  trout  in  it  and  neighboring 
hikes  and  for  furnishing  fish  for  planting  elsewhere  in  suitable  lakes.  Ttie  distance  of 
Klamath  Falls  from  the  railroad  is  the  chief  objection  to  the  establishment  of  o.  station 
at  that  place. 

CRATER   LAKE,  OREGON. 

Tn  the  spring  of  189(>  the  U.  S.  ('ommissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries  received  a 
lequest  to  plant  trout  in  Crater  Lake,  Oregon.  This  riMpiest  was  made  by  citizens 
(if  INfedford,  Ashhuid,  and  Klamath  Falls,  and  by  tlie  Mazanms,  a  club  of  mountain 
climbers  with  headquarters  at  Portland,  wliose  members  take  an  active  and  intel- 
ligent interest  in  di.scovering  and  making  known  the  scenic  and  other  natural 
attractions  of  the  Northwestern  States.  Hefore  complying-  with  the  recpiest,  the 
Commissioner  decided  to  have  nnide  such  investigations  as  would  determine  wliether 
the  physical  and  biologic  conditions  existing  at  Crater  Lake  are  such  as  will  permit 
fish  to  thrive  in  it.  These  investigations  were  made  by  Professor  Evermann  and  I'rof. 
C.  O.  Cox,  of  Mankato,  Minnesota. 

Crater  Lake  is  about  100  miles  from  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  reached 
l)y  a  wagon  road,  which  has  a  number  of  steej),  rough  grades.  The  Mazanuis  had 
selected  this  lake  as  the  place  of  their  annual  meeting  for  1800,  and  the  Fi.sh  Com- 
mission party  by  their  invitation  made  the  trip  to  the  lake  with  them,  thus  obviating 
the  necessity  of  employing  special  conveyances  and  nniking  the  trip  comparatively 
inexpensive.  The  party  left  Ashland  by  wagon  Augu.st  1.'5  and  reached  tlie  lake  on 
the  morning  of  August  10.  Work  was  carried  on  at  the  lake  until  August  -I,  when 
tlie  party  set  out  upon  tlie  return  trip  to  Ashland,  which  was  reached  August  20. 

Crater  Lake*  lies  in  the  top  of  Mount  Mazama  and  on  the  very  summit  of  the 
Cascade  Range,  about  midway  between  Mount  Shasta  and  Mount  IIocl.  Its  latitude 
is  42°  56'  N.  and  its  longitude  i;  122°  7'  W.  In  many  respects  it  is  one  of  the  most 
interesting  natural  wonders  i;:  America.  It  is  approximately  circular  and  averages  a 
little  niore-than  5  miles  in  diMmeter.  It  is  completely  encircled  by  a  bold  escarpment 
ranging  from  .100  to  2,000  feet  in  height  above  the  surface  of  *he  water.  Although 
the  steep  slopes  of  the  escarpment  are  in  some  jilaces  well  wooded,  they  are  generally 
cither  clitu'  or  talus,  descending  to  the  lake  and  plunging  into  deep  water.  There  are 
many  places  where  the  walls  are  almost  perpendicular,  and  at  only  two  or  three  places 
is  it  possible  to  descend  to  the  water's  edge.  The  lake  has  practically  no  shores  or 
iienches;  only  in  a  few  places  is  there  sufficient  beach  to  aftbrd  standing  room.  The 
Mverage  diameter  of  this  great  pit  at  the  top  is  .'>.7  miles  and  its  depth  is  4,000  leet. 
The  highest  part  of  the  wall  surrounding  this  lake  is  8,228  feet  above  sea  level,  while 
I  lie  surface  of  the  lake  is  (i,2.S0  feet  above  the  sea. 


"  In  our  Keiieral  (lesrriptiou  of  tliia  Jake  we  h»ve  made  free  use  of  the  excellent  acooiiut  given 
tiy  Mr  .1.  f*.  Oilier,  of  llie  I',  s.  (Jedlonieiil  Survey.  Mr.  I»illir  Iihh  niiHli-  ;i  ciirefiil  topojfrapliie  Hurvey 
cif  the  region  and  iiosseMSes  a  tborough  and  intiinule  aciiuiiliiiauco  with  (,'rator  Lake. 


Mira 


WWBII 


64 


BUI.,LETIW   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


The  lioi  of  the  bivain  uow  occupied  by  Crater  Lake  is  tlie  present  summit  of  wliat 
was  once  a  tnountain  cone.  That  this  is  ainiply  the  friistunj  of  what  wos  once  a  com- 
plete mouiitiiii'  cone  is  evidenced  by  the  attitude  of  the  sheots  of  lava  and  ejiv  twl 
volcanic  material  whicii  form  the  riin.  They  all  incline  away  Iron  tlie  lake,  indicat- 
ing a  comujoii  .source  from  ii  crater  that  surmounted  a  huge  volcano  high  in  air  altove 
the  place  now  occui'ied  by  tin?  lake.  At  that  time,  of  course,  neither  basin  nor  luke 
existed.  Mr.  Dillor  thinks  that  this  great  volcanic  mountain,  recently  named  Mouiit 
Mazamo,,  must  have  extended  about  5,000  feet  higher  than  the  remaiuing  fragnicni, 
thus  making  iLs  heiglit  about  H,000  fieet,  nearly  that  of  Mount  Shasta.  What  beeiiino 
of  the  top  of  Mount  Manama  is  au  iuterestirg  question.  The  geologists  are  convinced 
that  at  some  period  ii  its  history  the  molten  interior,  instead  of  escaping  througii  tlie 
crater  in  the  usual  way,  found  an  outlet  at  a  lower  level.  The  top  of  the  niouiilaiu 
being  thu??  Jufl; auieie  .shell  and  -iv ithout  adequate  8upi)ort,  fell  in  and  became  engiilicd 
in  the  vast  pit  wliich  the  lake  now  partly  tills.  The  pumice  upon  the  surfa<!e  tor 
many  miles  around  Oratfir  Lake  was  probably  blown  out  by  the  volcano  before  the  iiit 
developed,  and  the  volcano  of  'S'^'izard  Island  was  active  at  a  much  later  stage  upon 
the  bottom  of  the  pit.  It  was  tlie  8i;ene  of  the  last  eruj)tion  about  the  lake,  aiid, 
although  rocisnt  in  appeani.nce,  must  have  occurred  centuries  ago. 

Crater  Lake  is,  so  far  as  known,  the  deepest  lake  in  America.  Many  soumlings 
have  been  tuken  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey.  Over  only  very  liiuitiHl 
areas  vtas  a  depth  of  leas  than  1,000  feet  found,  while  over  a  large  part  of  the  laketlu! 
depth  ranges  from  1 ,8(K>  to  2,000  feet.  In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  lake  is  a  great  level 
floor,  with  a  nearly  uniform  dei)th  of  2,000  feet  for  a  distance  of  more  than  .3  unlcs. 
In  the  veeiern  part  are  three  or  iriore  small  cones,  one  reaching  within  93  feet  of  the 
surface  of  the  water,  while  anotlior  rlse.s  84r»  feet  above  the  water.  This  is  Wizanl 
Island,  a  peri'cct  cinder  cone,  with  symmetrical  slopes,  and  in  its  top  a  crater  80  tct'f 
dee[).  This  cone  is  comjiosed  chiefly  of  red  lajtilli,  and  so  nev/  and  fresii  that  it  is 
sparsely  forested  and  shown  no  trace  of  weathering.  About  the  base  of  this  islaiul 
cone  isj  a  rough  fringe  of  lavn,  which  has  spread  in  all  dicections  t^  far  beneatli  ilie 
watt  r's  level.  Tlie  sliaUoweal  parts  of  the  lake  lie  west  and  south  of  Wizard  Jslaiul. 
The  average  depth  in  thiw  area  probably  does  not  exceed  loO  feet. 

Crater  Lake  hasj  m  itiier  ialet  nor  vj.^!ble  outlet.  The  catchment  area  is  scarcely 
greater  than  the  lake  itvseif.  During  the  summer  season  severil  streams  trickle  down 
ihe  walls  from  the  snow  banks  which  lie  within,  the  rim;  these  streams  are  all  vt  ly 
small,  but  a  few  of  them  c(mtinue  throughout  the  summer,  as  some  of  the  snow  banks 
lying  on  the  southern  walls  never  entirely  disappear.  The  amount  of  precipitatioo  is 
believed  to  be  greater  than  the  evaporation,  but  the  level  of  the  lake  does  not  api)eiir  to 
be  rising.  It  is  therefore  quite  probable  that  thcie  ie  a  subterranean  outlet,  and  tlie 
large  springs  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Klanmtli  may  have  their  source  in  Crater  Lake. 

The  wafer  of  Cniter  Lake  is  cold,  fairly  pure,  and  ext-eediugly  clear.  Thou^ii 
suftidently  purfc  for  ail  liffh-cultural  i)urp<mcs.  it  is  slightly  flat  to  the  tmte  and  doubt- 
less  contains  some  minerals  in  solution,  f-^roth  or  foam  readily  forms  when  the  walt-r 
is  di.stiirbed.  The  dearne^is  is  remarkable,  an  ordinary  dinner  plate  being  distinctly 
visible  at  a  deptli  of  nearly  100  feet,  even  in  a  hazy  atmosphere. 

The  color  of  the  lake  is  a  wouderAjl  blue,  except  in  certain  comparatively  shallnw 
places  near  the  shore.  In  the  deeper  i)ar(8  of  the  lake  it  is  the  most  intense  blue  we 
have  ever  eoofi;  from  there  toward  the  shore,  and  in  the  changing  light  and  shadows  of 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    RIVER    UASIN    IN    1896. 


65 


cliifs  aiid  clouds,  the  colors  change  from  nltraiiuirinc  tbrougli  cobalt  and  azure  blue  to 
suialt  blue  and  hyacinth,  and  even  to  royal  purple,  xiolet,  and  mauve.  So  iiiarvelously 
and  strangely  beautii'ul  are  these  colors  that  one  never  tires  watchinj"'  and  studying 
them.  The  general  effect  as  one  views  tlie  lake  from  some  advantageous  point  upon 
tiie  rim  is  profoundly  impressive.  Two  thousand  feet  below  lies  the  lake  in  wiujse 
i>lacid  blue  waters  everything  is  so  perfectly  mirrored  that  one  can  not  tell  where  the 
real  ends  aud  the  mirror  begins.  Near  the  west  shore  rises  Wizard  Island,  symmetrical 
and  beautiful  in  all  its  proportions,  while  around  tiie  lake  is  a  circle  of  20  miles  of 
nearly  pierpendicuhu-  wall,  hundreds  of  feet  high  and  unrivaled  in  its  scenic  elTects. 

Temperatures. — Considerable  time  was  devoted  to  the  making  of  temperature 
observations  in  different  parts  of  the  lake  aud  at  different  depths. 

Tltc  following  table  gives  the  surfa<'e  temperatures  recorded: 


Date. 


Hour. 


Stat  lull. 


A\lg.  50 

:>o 

20 
20 
21 
22 
22 

i?. 


i  II.  Ill From  aliorc  in  Ea);li:  (.'ove 

9.40  a.  ill On«-t*oiirth  mile  from  aliore  in  Knjfle  Cove. . . 

il  ;'i5  ft.  in One  roilr.  I'rom  rttinr»i  in  Kugti^  Cove 

W  10 11, m Oiie-fouilli  iiiilo  from  Wizard  Lslaud 

1.40  p.  ni Onpfonrtli  iiiilo  oft  I'liiintoni  Sliiji 

i.ii  a.  in J'roni  alioio  in  Ka^lu  Cove 

(>.U  ».  ni ilo 

1  p.  ni Near  eeiiter  oriakt' 

3  p. m About  2^  iiiili'^  riist  nf  Wixaril  l»1ani1 

4  ji.  ui ilo 


Temper- 
ature. 


=  F. 
59 
57 

!)6.  b 
58 
liO 
55.0 
56 
62 
01 
6! 


The  following  iutermedi  ite  and  bottom  temperatures  were  taken,  with  a  Xegretti- 
Zarabra  deei)-sea  tlierinoim  tri]>ped  by  means  of  a  propeller,  such  as  is  used  by  the 
Alhutross  ''1  her  deep  sea  temperature  work: 


D»te.    ' 

I  

I       18W1. 
I    Aiif^.  20 

I  '     2(> 

22 


Hour. 


Station. 


Deptb. 


Feet. 
93 

Him 


11  a.  m At  bottom  4  niile  .^ontli  oC  Wi/.anl  Inland 

1.4(1  p.  Ill ;  At  bottom  J  mill'  otV  I'bantoio  Sliip 

:i  p.  Ill About  2^  iiiilt-s  oast  of  \\'i/.ai'd  laluntl '         r>;>.'> 

4p.m ilo 1,04(1 

5  p.  lu At  liotttim  2}  mileH  euHt  of  Wizard  Island .-. 1, 023 

i  i 


Temper- 
ature. 


°V. 
43.5 
44 
3D 
41 
40 


The  vertical  stries  taken  on  August  22,  at  a  station  about  2J  miles  east  from  the 
southeast  corner  of  Wizard  Island,  proved  of  very  great  i;it.erest.  The  surfaeo  tem- 
jierature  was  Gl";  at  555  feet  it  was  'M°;  at  1,040  feet  41  .  and  at  1,023  feet,  which 
was  at  the  bottom,  40°.  In  all  other  American  lakes,  so  far  as  known,  the  coldest  water 
in  summer  is  always  at  the  bottom.  The  effectof  the  sun  in  heating  the  water  of  lakes 
does  not  ordinarily  reach  to  any  great  depth.  Observations  recently  made  upon  Lake 
Champlain  by  Prof.  George  (",  Whipi)le  and  our  own  observations  made  in  1800  upou 
Vlturas  and  Wallowa  lakes  showed  tiiat  the  sun's  heat  did  not  much  affect  the 
temperature  of  the  water  beyond  a  depth  of  100  feet. 

If  there  be  no  error  in  the  above  observations,  it  seems  that  the  waters  of  Crater 
Lake  are  still  receiving  heat  from  the  rock  upou  which  tiiey  rest.  The  heat  of  the  old 
volcano  has  not  entirely  disai)peared.  The  coldest  water  is  neither  at  the  surface  nor 
at  the  bottom,  but  at  some  intermediate  depth.  The  results  of  these  observations  are 
so  unexpected,  and  the  indicated  conditions  are  so  unusual,  that  the  matter  should 
receive  further  attention.    The  only  possible  source  of  error  which  has  yet  suggested 

F.  C.   U.  18D7-5 


66 


BULLETIN   OP   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


Itr 
-f 


Jt 
'?•. 


itself  is  that  the  propeller  may  not  always  have  worked  properly.  It  is  possible  (thouj^li 
improbable)  that  in  some  caaes,  when  beginning  to  h.aul  up  the  tlu-rniometer  tlie 
propeller  failed  to  reverse  until  some  moments  later,  in  which  iiase  the  temperature 
reading  would  be  for  some  depth  other  than  the  one  desired.  The  observations  should 
be  carefully  repeated  before  the  conclusions  suggested  are  accepted. 

During  the  trip  of  the  Mazama  party  from  Ashland  to  Crater  Lake  and  return  ji 
good  many  temperature  observations  were  made.  All  of  these  possess  a  certain 
value  and  it  has  been  thought  proper  to  record  them  in  this  connection.  The  air 
temperatures  were  all  in  the  shade  unless  otherwise  stated.  The  instrument  used  was 
a  Wilder  protected  thermometer. 

MiscManeout  temperatures  recorded  on  the  Crater  Lake  trip,  August  IS  to  26,  1S96. 


Date. 

Honr. 

SUtion. 

Air. 

Water. 

Date. 

Hour. 

Station. 

Air. 

Water. 

OF. 

OF. 

OF. 

OF. 

Aqr.13 

9.10  p.m. 

Hunt's    ranch,    4,400 
feet  elevation. 

54 

'  Aug.  18 

1 

5.00  a.m. 

Creek  at  Crane  Creek 
camp. 

41 

U 

5.00  a.  m. 

do 

41 

18 

....do 

Air  at  Crane  Creok 

36 

U 

9.10  p.  m. 

Camp  at  Lake  of  the 

61 

camp. 
Wood  Kivcr  at  bridge. 

WoddH. 

18 

8.30  a.  m. 

4.'; 

15 

5.00  a.m. 

do 

46 

18 

6.30  p.  m. 

Camp  2i  miles  from 

43 

15 

12.18  p.m. 

Creok  on  way  to  Mount 
Pitt. 

54 

Crater  Lake,  6,100 
feet. 

IS 

2.110  p.m. 

Spring   on    croek  on 

42.76 

19 

6.25  a.  m. 

do 

49 

3fl 

way  to  Mount  Pitt. 

19 

1.20  p.  m. 

Camp  Mazama,  Crater 
Lake,  7,185  feet. 

66 

16 

4.00  a.  III. 

Cam]}  on  8ido  of  Mount 

60 

Pitt. 

19 

3.00  p.m. 

Siiiall  stream  on  trail 

45 

16 

9.42  a.  m. 

SiimmitofMoiintPitt, 

56 

down  to  lake. 

16 
17 

11.30  a.m. 
4.40  a.  m. 

il. 760  feet. 
Summit  of  Mount  Pitt, 

9,760  fufct,  in  HUH. 
Camp  returning  from 

83 

37 

19 
20 
20 
20 

11.00  p.m. 
6.00  a.  m. 
12.00  m. 
10.00  p.  m. 

Camp  Mazama 

66 
64 
67.6 
62 



do 

do 

Mount  Pitt. 

21 

6.00  a.  m. 

....    >.o 

61 

,' 

17 

17 

12.30  p.  in. 
....do 

Largo  spring  at  Poll- 

can  liay. 
Small  spring  at  Peli- 

43 

43.6 

21 
21 
2i 

8.45  a.  m. 
2.30  p.  ni. 
8.00  p.  in. 

do 

58 
61 

68.5 

( 

do 

do 



I'liu  l!ay. 

21 

10.20  p.  m. 

do 

66 

17 

....do 

Creek  100  yards  liclow 

44.75 

22 

6.00  a.  m. 

do 

62 

17 

....do 

spring    at    Pelican 
Cn'fld  40(1  Mirds  below 

45.6 

22 
22 
23 

«.00  u.  m. 
4.0Up.  m. 
7.35  a.  in. 

do 

,lo 

60 

59 
65 

'.'.'.'.'.'.'.J 

....  do 

spring    aJ    Peliran 

23 

9.00  a.  m. 

Camp  Ma/.ania,  Catlie 

66 

35.5 

17 

....do  

Bay. 
Creek  at  entrance  of 
Pelican  Bay. 

47 

23 
23 

12.20  p.m. 
3.00  p.  m. 

drill  Siiring. 

Camp  .\f azBiua 

do 

69.5 
70.5 

1 

17 
17 

....do 

2.14  p.m. 

Air  in  sliade  at  Peli. 

can  Bay. 
do 

77 
80 

23 
24 
24 

0.00  p.m. 
5.00  a.  m. 
9.00  p.  m. 

do 

69 
62 
61 

i 

do 

Hogiie    Kivcr    camp. 

17 

8.00  p.  ni. 

Crane    Creek    camp, 
3,000  feet. 

52 

2.300  feet  elevation. 

Riigiie  Kivcr  camp 

Jai'ksoii'H  ranch  camp, 

1.31)0  feet. 

1 

25 

5.50  a.  m. 

46 

1 

17 

10.20  p.  ni. 

do 

44 

25 

9.00  p.m. 

05 

17 

CIO 

Cn«k  at  Crane  Creek 

ii.s  1 

camp. 

' 

26 

6.00  a.  m. 

Jackson's  ranch  camp. 

67 

Life  of  Crater  Lake.— Crater  Lake  contains  no  fishes;  lakes  without  inlets  or 
outlets  seldom  or  never  do,  for  fislies  naturally  get  into  one  body  of  water  only  by 
swimming  to  it  from  some  other  body  of  water  with  which  it  is  connected.  Fislii'.s 
never  airpear  <1e  novo  in  any  lake  or  stioani ;  if  tiiey  appear  there  at  all  it  is  because 
they  can  swim  there  from  some  other  lake  or  stream.  Breaks  in  water  continuity,  or 
even  considerable  fulls,  are  absolute  barriers  beyond  which  fishes  can  not  go.  So  with 
Crater  Lake;  it  has  never  had  any  inlet  or  visible  outlet  connecting  it  with  any  otiicr 
body  of  water  in  which  fLshes  are  found  and  through  which  fishes  might  reach  it. 

Mammals  and  birds  e.\ceptcd,  only  .{  species  of  vertebrates  were  found  within  the 
run  of  Crater  Lake,  viz,  a  snake,  a  frog,  and  a  salamander. 

Tlie  snake  is  the  small  headed  striped  snakti,  Tlui.iinophis  hptovephitlnit  (Haird  iV: 
Girard).    Two  specimens  were  obtained  on  Wizard  Island.    It  was  not  seen  elsewlieie. 


:! 


5« 


SAT.MON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA    RIVKR    BASIN    IM    1896. 


67 


e  (though 
neter  tlie 
iiperature 
ns  should 

[  return  a 

a  certain 

Tlie  air 

used  was 


Air.    Walir. 


OF.  i 

OF. 

41 

36   . 

ir< 



ij 

40 

39 

86  \ 

45 

56 

54    : 

67  5  ' 

62 

51 

58 

61 

58.5 

55 

52 

60 

5» 

65 

66 

•J5.5 

«9.5 

1  70.5 

50 

62 

61 

46 

65 

57 

it  Itilets  or 
ter  only  by 
•d.  Fislics 
;  is  because 
iitinuity.  <>r 
o.  So  with 
li  any  otliiT 
sach  it. 
I  within  tlie 

i«  (Haird  ^; 
nelsewluTi'. 


One  frog,  Ka7ia  aurora  liaird  &  Giraid,  was  also  obtaine*  on  Wizard  Ishmd. 
Others  were  seen  about  the  spring  bulow  the  ciinip.  The  salama.aler  is  AmhhiHioma 
macrotlaotylum  Haird.  It  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  and  most  interesting  vertebrate 
occurring  at  Crater  Lake,  (^ur  first  sDCcitnons  were  I'ound  on  the  shore  under  lled- 
cloud  Clift's,  where  wo  found  it  to  be  exceedingly  abundant.  It  was  afterwards  found 
in  cousiderabio  numbers  along  the  shore  in  Eagle  Cove  and  a  few  were  obtained  about 
Wizard  Island.  More  than  a  hundred  speciniena  were  collected  and  many  more 
could  have  been  obtained.  The  majority  of  the  individuals  seen  were  adults,  only  -i 
or  5  still  retaiuing  the  pxtornal  gills  were  seen.  These  salamanders  were  found  under 
the  rocks  just  above  the  edge  of  the  water  of  the  lake.  Sometimes  as  many  as  a 
dozen  or  fifteen  were  found  under  a  single  flat  stone.  These  three  species  are  not 
uncommon  throughout  western  Oregon  and  Washington, 

Invertebrate  life  was  found  to  be  fairly  abundant,  and  a  few  plants  were  found. 
By  using  fine-meshed  surface  towing  nets  considerable  collections  were  made.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  species  obtained : 


PLANTS. 
Algw : 

Xontoo  Lp.  ?    Colonies  common. 
Melosira  tjranulaia  .     Not  common. 
Pleurosigma  Hp.  ?     Several  speeimenH. 
Surirella  ap.  f    Not  common. 

ANIMALS. 
Cntstacea : 

Cyclops  alhidiis.    Not  common. 

I'jiclopi  serriilatiiii.     Not  common. 

Vaphnia  piiJex  puHcaria.    Very  abundant. 

Allorclieates  denlata.    Not  common. 
Insecta : 

Chifonomns  aY}.1    Larvn'.     Very  common. 

Ephcmerid  larvm.     Common. 

Hmnophilut  or  caddis  lly.    Very  abundant. 


ANIMALS— ( 'ontinued. 

Insecta — Continued. 

Laccophilim  larvic.     Not  common. 

Deroni'otes  strialellKS.     (Common. 

Dytisciw  sp.  f    Not  rare. 
Vermes : 

(iordius  sp.f    One  spi-cimun  obtained. 

A  species  of  leccb.     Not  common. 
Molliisca  : 

I'hysa  sp.  t    Not  common. 
Batrachia : 

Amblystoma  macrodactyliim . 

liana  aurora, 
liepiilia : 

Thamnophii  leploeephalun. 


These  crustaceans  and  insect  larva;  are  lall  excellent  food  for  trout,  and  were  found 
in  considerable  abundance,  particularly  in  Eagle  Cove.  The  small  entomostracan, 
Daphiiia  jvilex pulicarla,  was  the  most  abundant  species,  and  large  numbers  could  be 
seen  during  favorable  afternoons  swimming  at  the  surface  in  Eagle  Cove.  The  three 
other  species  of  crustaceans  seemed  far  less  abundant. 

Caddis-fly  cases  were  very  abundant  on  the  under  sides  of  rocks  lying  in  the  edge 
of  the  water.  A  small  bhack  leech  was  quite  common  on  the  rocks  in  Eagle  Cove  and 
about  Wizard  Island.  The  small  gastropod  {rhysa)  was  found  about  Wizard  Island 
in  limited  numbers,  a  species  of  water-beetle  {I>ythcii>i)  was  pretty  common,  and  a 
.single  specimen  of  Oordius,  or  hair  snake,  was  found  near  the  shore  of  the  island. 

There  are  no  water-plants  of  any  size  in  the  lake.    On  the  rocks  about  Wizard 
Island  the  gelatimms  masses  of  colonies  of  ^'ontoc  were  common.    A  number  of  speci 
mens  of  the  diatom y  Pleurosigma,  were  obtained  in  the  towing  net,  and  a  few  specimens 
of  two  other  algic  were  secured. 

Summing  uj)  the  matter,  it  may  be  said  that  while  the  coiulitions  at  Crater  Lake 
are  not  the  most  favorable  to  fish-life,  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  trout  in  limited 
numbers  might  not  thrive  in  it.  The  water  is  all  that  could  be  desired  as  to  purity 
and  temperature,  but  the  depth  is  so  uniformly  great  that  only  small  areas  of  bottom 
suitable  for  spawMiing  beds  are  found.    The  entire  absence  of  all  other  fish-life  and  the 


68 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


very  limited  vegetation  supported  by  the  lake  reduce  the  food  supply  almost  wholly  to 
small  free-swimming  crustaceans  and  insect  larva-.  JJoth  are  present  in  consideraldc 
abundance,  but  probably  not  in  suflHcient  quantities  to  su[)i)ort  a  large  number  of  fishes. 
On  the  other  hand,  fishes  planted  in  this  lake  will  have  no  rapacious  fishes  with  wliidi 
to  contend;  the  struggle  will,  therefore,  be  wholly  with  tlie  physical  environment  and 
the  food  supply.  It  has,  tlierefore,  been  recommended  that  a  plant  of  trout  be  made  in 
Crater  Lake,  and  it  is  hoped  tliat  the  Ma/amas  who  visit  the  lake  hereafter  may  malic 
observations  to  determine  the  result  of  the  experiment.  The  best  species  to  plant  is 
the  black-speckled  trout  of  Lake  Tahoe,  Salmo  mykimi  henaliatci. 


m 

It: 


LIST   OF    FISHES. 

In  the  following  list  of  fishes  we  give  only  those  species  of  which  specimens  wore 
obtained  by  us  during  the  investigations  of  1896.  In  the  nomenclature  and  seiiueuce 
of  species  we  follow  Jordan  «&  Evermanu's  (Jheck-List,*  recently  published: 

1.  Eutosphenus  tridentatus  (Giiirtlner).     Three-toothed  f.amprey. 

A  Hpucimeu,  18  iiiuhes  lon^,  was  obtained  .Inly  23  in  Altiiras  Inlet,  1  inilo  above  the  lake,  iiiid 
several  Itirvsit  were  dug  out  of  the  sand  at  th«  head  of  the  lake  ■Inly  25.  Comparing  the  large  Hpuciinrn 
with  one  24  inches  long,  obtained  by  Mr.  Willianis  at  liig  I'ayetto  Lake,  some  important  diHereuccs 
are  noted.  In  the  Payette  example  the  dorsal  lins  are  separated  by  a  spaco  equal  to  one-third  the 
length  of  the  base  of  the  anterior  fin,  while  the  Alturas  example  has  tho  dorsals  scarcely  separated. 
The  tins  are  also  much  higher  in  this  specimen,  the  height  of  tho  anterior  dorsal  being  contained 
3J  times  in  head,  mensureil  to  first  gill-opening,  or  lij  times  in  the  height  uf  thesueoud.  Tho  infraor.il 
lamina  has  .5  cusps;  the  sunraoral  has  3,  the  middle  one  being  much  Hmaller  than  the  other  two;  the 
buccal  teeth  befor<>  the  month  are  uniciisjtid ;  on  each  side  of  the  oral  opening  are  l  teeth,  the  anterior 
and  posterior  ones  of  whicdi  are  bieuspid,  while  tlie  other  two  are  tricuspid.  The  arrangement  of  the 
teeth  does  not  diH'er  materially  from  tliat  in  the  Payette  specimen.  The  larva-  range  from  li  to  8} 
inches  in  total  length.     In  all  of  these  the  tlorsal  tin  irt  continuous,  though  deeply  incised. 

An  example  10}  inches  long  was  found  attached  to  a  chub  in  Upper  Klamath  Lake,  November  ID. 

2.  Aoipenser  medlroBtriu  Ayres.     (treen  Sturgeon. 

Common  near  the  mouth  of  Siuslaw  River;  several  taken  in  a  seine  near  Acme  in  Soptciiihcr. 
measuring  about  18  inches  each  in  total  length.  At  Gardiner,  near  the  mouth  of  thi>  l'in])(|un,  a  good 
many  large  sturgeon,  probably  .1.  transmuiitaniit,  were  taken  in  November  and  December. 

3.  Pantosteus  jordani  Evermann.     IVeiileni  Itlnrk  Snckir. 

During  the  season's  work  this  sucker  wits  found  only  in  Wallowa  Lake,  Oregon.  Two  siiiiill 
specimens  were  obtained  i  i  the  upper  end  of  tho  lake  August  1.'4. 

4.  CatoBtomuB  tBiltcooBensis,  new  species. 

Type  No.  48479,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. ;  cotypos  No.  3«,  U.  S.  F.  C.  and  No.  .5703,  L.  S.  .Jr.  Univ.  Muf,. 

Type  locality:  Tsiltcoos  Lake,  Lane  County,  Oregon,  where  numerous  specimens  we'.e  oblaiiii'd 
December  2,  IXiMi,  by  Dr.  Meek. 

Apparently  most  closely  related  to  ('.  ocrideiitaliH  Ayros. 

Head  4i;  depth  5;  eye  fii  in  head;  snout  '?;  D.  13;  A.  7:  scales  1.3-65-8,  ;U  before  the  dorsal. 
Pectoral  IJ^  in  head;  longest  dorsal  ray  I'i ;  base  of  dorsal  1  > ;  longest  anal  ray  li ;  ventral  1?.  liody 
rather  slender,  subterete;  head  small,  snout  long  ami  )>ointed;  mouth  inferior,  overhung  by  the  pro- 
.jocting  snout;  lips  rather  thin,  one  row  of  large  papillie  on  upper  lip,  and  al)out  2  irregular  rows  of 
smaller  ones  behind  or  inside  of  it;  lower  lip  incised  nearly  to  base,  1  or  2  rows  of  small  paiull:' 
across  the  isthmus;  lobi-s  of  lower  lip  moderately  long  and  thin,  tin-  bases  with  papilla-  merging 
into  plications  toward  the  tips.  Eye  quite  small,  the  anterior  edge  of  orbit  at  iiiiildle  of  ho.id  I  op 
of  head  flat  or  very  slightly  convex  between  tho  eyes.     Fins  small;  pectorals  short  and   i nili,l; 

*A  Check-List  of  the  Fishes  and  Fish-like  \'ertebrates  of  North  and  Middle  America,  in  hV-jiort 
U.  S.  F.  C.  for  1895  (December  28,  1890),  207-590. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS   IN   COLUMBIA   RIVKR   BASIN   IN    1896.  69 

ventralB  short,  rcnided,  tho  iniddl.'  rays  but  littl.-  longer  than  tho  others;  anal  small,  somewhat 
pointed;  margin  of  dorBiil  slightly  coni^avo;  caudal  lunate,  not  d.'eply  fork.Ml.  Mn.if.Toi.s  canals  on 
head  not  strongly  d.-veloped.  Scales  moderatidy  large;  lateral  line  nearly  straight,  not  running 
upward  toward  nape. 

Length  of  typi^,  H  inches  to  base  of  caudal. 

The  cotypeH  agree  closely  with  the  typo  in  all  characters  of  importance. 

Wo  have  compared  our  sp.'cimens  of  tliis  species  with  specimens  of  C.  ncriihii talis  (Fig.  2)  from 
tho  .Sacramento  River  and  find  important  .lifferences.  Comparing  examples  of  the  same  size,  we  find 
that  C.  tsillcoosensia  has  a  smaller  head,  longer,  more  pointed  snout,  smaller  eye,  larger  scales,  and 
much  smaller  fins;  the  pectorals  in  C.  occideiitalh  are  laleate  while  in  this  species  they  are  moro 
rounded,  and  the  ventrals  also  are  less  pointed. 

Anexampleof  C.occi(/fH/a/i«  it  inches  long  has  the  head  4J;  depthr>;  eyor.ij;  snout  LM  ;  1)  12-  A  7- 
scales  ia-70-10,  41  before  the  dorsal.  '  '    ' 

This  species  is  abundant  in  Tsiltcoos  Lake  and  Siuslaw  River.  The  specimens  from  Siuslaw 
River  were  obtained  in  brackish  water. 


Fui.  l.—Catoitumui  liilteoosfrmit  Evt'rnmiin  &.  Mtek,  uew  xpucieg. 


Fio.  2 CatOKlomut  iiccidmlali.i  Ay  res. 


5.  CatostomuB  maorooheilus  Oirard.     Coliimbiii  Hirer  Siivker;  '■  Velloie  Sucker." 

Abundant  tliroughout  entire  Columbia  River  basin  ;  obtained  this  year  Inuu  Alturas  and  Wallowa 
lakes,  in  both  of  which  it  is  abundant.  It  seems  not  to  occur  in  .Siuslaw  River,  nor  in  lakes  of  that  part 
of  Oregon.     Five  specimens  from  Lake  Union  near  Seattle,  and  oii<-  from  Lake  Washington  at  Seattle. 

6.  CatostomuB  snyderi  Gilbert. 

One  obtained  from  an  Indian  at  the  mouth  of  Williamson  River,  November  .">.  This  species  was 
caught,  along  with  Chasmialis  ropei  and  l.'hasti  istts  Hlomias,  in  the  snial.i  trap  or  basket  nets  which  tho 
Indians  were  using  at  that  place.  Three  small  specimens,  2|  to  4';  inches  long,  were  taken  in  the 
seine  at  the  south  end  of  Up])er  Klamath  Lake  November  10,  ami  two  others,  2  and  2i  inches  long, 
respectively,  in  a  slough  at  Pelican  Bay  November  3.    No  large  examples  seen  in  shallow  water. 


70 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES   PISH    COMMISSION, 


The  Klamath  Lake  Catoitovius  has  been  identified,  by  all  who  have  hail  occasion  to  mention  it,  with 
C.  labialim  Ayres,  upon  the  Bupposition  that  the  typo  of  Ayrcs's  species  came  from  Klamath  Lake.  Hut 
Ayres  plainly  states*  that  it  came  from  Stockton,  (.'alifornia.  As  only  one  Hi)ccics  of  this  nciiii»  is 
found  in  San  .loaciuin  kiver,  C  labiatiis  becomes  a  synonym  iif  ('.  occidi-nlalin,  and  the  Klaninth  Lake 
species  is  left  without  a  name,  a  fact  first  pointed  out  by  Mr. .).  O,  Snyder,  for  whom  the  fish  lias  licni 
recently  named  by  Dr.  Gilbert. t  ' 

The  type  specimen  upon  which  Dr.  (iilbert  based  his  description  is  less  than  8  inches  long.  As  tlic 
one  which  we  have  from  the  mouth  of  Williamson  River  is  much  lurjfor  (length,  lii  inches)  ami  sli.iws 
some  slight  dirtereuces,  we  describe  it  fully  as  (bllows:  Head  41, ;  dei>th  I ;  eye  (U  in  bead ;  snnni  l'i  ; 
maxillary  S.li ;  mandible  2.| ;  interorbital  2i;  widtli  of  mouth  3^  in  head,  more  than  half  length  of  hiioiiI  : 
greatest  width  of  lower  li|)  }  diameter  of  eye;  1).  ii,ll;  A.7;  scales  i;{-7()-ll.  Hody  rather  sliMidi'r;  Inai' 
long,  month  moderate,  horizontal;  lips  thick  papillose,  the  upper  with  about  4  or  5  rows  of  pnpilln', 
lower  with  about  7;  lower  lip  divided  nearly  to  base,  leaving  only  one  row  ol' papilhe  crossing  iln' 
symphysis;  premaxillary  not  much  projecting  and  not  forming  a  ]>roniineDt  hump;  nuvxillary  ratlnr 
short,  not  reaching  vertical  at  front  of  anterior  nostril;  eye  equally  distant  between  snout  and  postc- 
I'iur  edge  of  opercle;  mucous  canals  on  head  forming  raised  ridges,  the  pores  conspicuous.  I'ius  uiuil- 
erate;  origin  of  dorsal  a  little  nearer  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  sixth  spine  over  insertion  of  vent  mis; 
pectoral  1^  in  head,  reaching  slightly  more  than  two-thirds  distance  to  ventrals;  ventrals  not  i|uite 
reaching  vent,  the  seventh  ray  longest,  1?  >u  head;  anal  long,  pointed,  reaching  to  l)as<-  of  cuubil.  I;, 
in  head.  Scales  iTowded  anteriorly,  about  32  transverse  rows  in  front  of  dorsal,  strongly  ritlgid,  tlx^ 
margins  crenate. 

7.  Chasmistes  Btomias  Gilbert. 

One  specimen,  1.')  inches  long,  obtained  from  an  Indian  at  Klamath  Falls,  November  11.  Head  I  i ; 
depth  4^;  ey<'T;  snout  2;|;  maxillary  (measured  from  free  end  to  tip  of  snout)  34;  mandible  2i ;  !>.  ii, 
11;  A.  i,  7;  scales  13-85-10;  interorbital  width  2^;  vertical  depth  of  head  at  mandibular  articuhitidii 
2,'i.  Head  small,  body  heavy  forward,  the  back  strongly  and  regularly  arched  from  snout  to  oriiiiii  "f 
dorsal  fin,  thence  declined  in  a  nearly  straight  line  to  base  of  caudal ;  ventral  surface  nearly  straight. 
Premaxillary  spines  strongly  protruding,  forming  a  prominently  projecting  snout;  mouth  ratlii'i'siuall, 
inclined  upward  at  an  angle  of  abotit  40  ',  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  vertical  from  front  of  aiilciidr 
nostril;  width  of  mouth  Iif  in  snout  or  4.>  in  hcail;  up|)er  lip  thin,  without  pnpilbe;  lower  lip  ililn, 
interrupted  at  the  symphysis,  forming  narrow  lateral  lobes  the  width  of  which  is  about  2?  times  in 
their  length;  faint  indications  of  a  few  pajiilla  ;  mucous  canals  forming  ridges,  the  pores  con8]>ii'iii»is; 
gill-rakers  long,  narrowly  triangular  at  the  tip  when  viewed  from  behind,  densely  tuftcil  mi  tlie 
anterior  edge;  fontanelle  narrow,  its  length  2 it  in  the  snout,  its  width  about  j  its  length.  I'ius  all 
large;  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  a  little  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  the  sixth  ray  over  liasc 
of  ventral,  its  liase  1;^  in  head,  the  free  edge  nearly  straight,  the  last  ray  1?  in  the  first,  which  is  I '  in 
head;  pectorals  scarcely  falcate,  reaching  a  little  more  than  two-thirds  distance  to  base  of  veiilials, 
their  length  IJin  head;  ventrals  long,  reaching  vent,  the  rays  gradually  increasing  in  length  limn  flu' 
outer  to  the  seventh  and  eighth,  which  are  longest,  the  ninth  and  tenth  being  but  slightly  slinrlcr, 
the  length  of  the  longest  ray  1}  in  head  or  about  \  longer  than  the  first;  anal  long  and  pointeil,  llie 
fourth  ray  longest,  reaching  base  of  caudal,  1,',  in  head;  each  ray  of  anal  flti  v.- ith  8  to  12  strung 
iubercles;  caudal  lobes  about  equal,  their  length  H  times  the  middle  ray. 

This  specimen  agrees  with  Dr.  Gilbert's  type,;  with  which  we  have  compared  it.  In  the  type  tlic 
month  is  rather  more  oblique,  the  maxillary  is  slightly  longer,  and  the  anal  fin  is  longer. 

8.  ChasmiBtes  copei,  new  species.     Klamath  Indian  name  "  Tncam." 

Type  No.  48224,  If.  S.  N.  M.  (collectors'  No.  871),  a  specimen  1(5  inches  long.  Type  bicility: 
Northwest  part  of  Pelican  Bay,  Upper  Klamath  Lake,  Oregon  ;  collect<»d  (in  gill  net)  November  ti.  IsiMi, 
by  Messrs.  S.  E.  Meek  and  A.  H.  Alexander. 

Head  SSj;  depth  4;  eye  (ii;  snout  2^;  maxillary  (measured  from  free  end  to  tip  of  sncnil)  ;i; 
mandible  2.^;  I),  ii,  10;  A.  i,  7;  scabs  13-80-12;  interorbital  width  2i;  vertical  depth  of  head  at  man- 
dibular .articulation  2^.  Head  large,  cheek  very  deep,  the  depth  equal  to  distance  from  tip  «(  snont 
to  nostril;  body  stout,  back  scarcely  elevated,  caudal  peduncle  rather  short  and  stout;  ventral  snrlai'c 
somewhat  convex.    Premaxillary  spines  less  protruding  than  in  C.  atomiaa,  not  forming  a  prDuiinent 


•Proc.  Oal.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  i,  1855,  33. 

fUull.  U.  S.  F.  C.  1897,3. 

t  Described  in  Bnll,  U.  8.  F.  C.  1897,  5,  with  flguro. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS    IN   TIIK    COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN   IN    189(i.  71 

hump ;  nioutli  larKf,  inclined  iii)wur(l  at  an  anKlc  of  45' ,  maxillary  nnt  nearly  reaching  vrrtliuil  at  front 
of  anterior  nostril;  width  of  month  i;  in  Hnout,  or  I  in  heud;  njipcr  li])  thin,  withont  papilhr  ;  lower 
li]t  thin,  entirely  «  ithout  papilhi',  interrupted  at  HymphyHis,  forming  rather  broad  lateral  l(d)eB;  jioreH 
on  head  very  conspicuouH;  jjillrakerH  larger  than  in  ('.  Hloniian,  broadly  triangular  at  tip  wlien  viewed 
from  behind,  deUHely  tufted  on  antiTioredge,  eaeh  appendage  more  or  less  bilid  and  club  shtiped,  elo.ielv 
resembling  those  of  r.  lioriat;  fcmtanelle  narrow,  its  length  I'J  in  snout,  width  one-fifth  its  lengtli. 
Kins  alt  small;  origin  of  dorsal  a  little  nearer  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  its  sixtli  ray  over  base  of 
veiitrals,  free  edge  straight,  base  '2k  in  liead,  last  ray  a  little  less  tlian  2  in  first,  whieh  is  '2  in  head ; 
peetorals  somewhat  fiiliate,  reaching  slightly  more  tlian  half  distance  to  vontrals,  their  length  1'  in 
head;  veutrals  very  short,  reaching  only  two-thirds  distance  to  vent,  free  end  m^arly  straight;  odter 
ray  hmgest,  !'•  in  head ;  inner  shortest,  :il,  in  head  ;  anal  tin  short,  bluntly  pointed,  not  reaching  base  of 
caudal,  third  and  fourth  rays  longcHt,  IJin  head;  no  tubercles  on  anal  rays;  caudal  l(d)es  ecjual,  length 
about  U  times  the  middle  ray.  .Scales  small  and  crowded  anteriorly,  al»ont  14  rows  downward  and 
backward  from  front  of  dorsal  to  lateral  line,  11  vertically  upward  from  base  of  ventral  to  lateral 
line,  about  H8  oblique  series  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  nearly  straight,  with  about  80  scales.  Entire 
ujiper  ])arts  of  head  and  body,  and  sides  nearly  to  level  of  base  of  peetorals,  dark  olivaceouH ;  under  ))art8 
abruptly  whitish  or  yellowish  in  alcohol:  a  dark  sjxit  in  upper  part  of  axil;  dorsal  and  caudal  dark; 
pectorals  dark  .a  inner  surface ;  veutrals  and  anal  plain. 


Fin.  ^.—Channistfii  copn  l-^veriujiim  A-  ^leck,  new  H])f)(:ieM. 


From  ChasmMfs  slomias  this  siiecies  is  readily  distinguished  by  its  larger  head,  larger,  more 
oblique  mouth,  less  |irominent  snout,  and  very  small  tins.  The  ditferences  in  the  li'.is  are  very  great, 
particularly  in  the  veutrals,  as  may  be  s<'en  in  the  accompanying^  illustrations.  It  ditlers  from  C. 
lireriroHtrin,  as  characterized  by  l)r,  Gilbert,  in  its  much  larger,  more  obli(|ue  mouth,  the  absence  of 
jiapilLe  on  the  lips,  and  shorter  fins. 

We  name  this  species  f(«-  the  late  Prof.  Evward  Drinker  Cope,  who  wrote  the  first  paper  on  the 
lislies  of  U)(per  Klamath  I.ako. 

Six  nominal  species  of  suckers  have  thus  far  been  descrilied  from  the  Klamath  Lakes,  \  iz:  ('has- 
miitiK  iHratiin  and  ('litinmislts  bnrirostiin  by  Cope  in  1X79;  CtitdnlomiiH  iix  by  ''osa  .'^uiith  Eigenui.iun  in 
1891;  Caloslomiis  xnyilfyi  and  Chaiimistiii  «tomian  by  Gilbert,  and  Hhaamixtes  copei  by  Everniann  iV 
Meek,  the  last  three  in  the  i)re8ent  ISulletin.  Mr.  A.  Seiile  has  ri'cently  taken  C.  luxalim  as  the  type 
iif  his  new  genus  Drltinles,  which  he  bases  upon  the  ])eculiar  structure  of  the  gillrakers.  Dr.  (iilbtut 
liuds  that  Calostomus  nx  is  a  synonym  of  lh'U'tsUn  liixatiis.  As  now  understood,  we  therefore  know 
from  Upper  Klamath  Lake  oite  species  of  Calonlomus,  tme  of  ItiiHstes,  and  three  of  Cliniimixtfa. 

0.  MylocheilUB  caurinuB  (liicliardson).     Columbia  Chiib. 

Obtained  from  Little  White  Saluion  Hiver,  Lakes  Washington  and  Sauimaniish  at  Seattle,  and 
I.akePeudd'Oreilleat  Mope,  Idaho.  Abundant  early  in  September  in  lagoon  at  mouth  of  Little  White 
Salmon  River,  and  seen  in  considerable  numbers  at  steamboat  landings  between  Portland  and  The 
Dalles.  It  does  not  occur  in  the  l{edtish  Lakes  in  Idaho,  nor  has  it  been  recorded  from  Wallowa 
Lake,  nor  from  any  of  the  streams  or  lakes  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 


72 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    FleiH    COMMISSION. 


10.  PtyohocbelluB  oregonensia  (KiclianlHon).     S(i,iawjinli ;    Ydlowbclly. 

TluH  lai'KO  minnow  in  iibiiiidaiit  tliiouKlioiit  tiic  t'filiiniMa  Hi\(irbiwln  except  the  portion  iilioxc 
ShoHhonu  Falls.     In  Montaiiii,  and  pcrhapH  clsewhure,  it  is  ciilleil  "K(|uawfiHli";  at  Siiwtootli,  Idiiim.  it  I 
is  Icnown  only  hb  " yollowboUy'';  at  MapUiton,  Oroi;on,  "clinl)"  was  tlio  only  name  hoard  applied  lul 
it;  while  at  TsiltcooB  Lakr   it  was  called  ''dace."    Specimens  obtained   from  Lakes  Altiiras,  IVml  f 
d'Oreillo,  Ganilin,  Washington,  'I'silteoos,  Whoahink,  ami  Tahkunitch,.and  Crom  Siiislaw  River.     One 
was  taken  r>n  a  set  line  in  Whoahink  Lake,  at  a  deiitli  of  IH  feet,  on  Peeeniber  ,'!, 

Scale  and  fin  formula:  and  comparative  meanuremeuU  of  apecimeus  of  I',  oregontnuia  from  Lake  fVtiHhinijldii. 


I  LeiiKth  '  1 

'      in        Itoail.  I)nptb.<  Kye. 

I  lurlies.  ! 


7.2B..I 

7.7.1.. 
7.00.. 
11.75.. 
S.88.. 
5.50..; 


a.  fi? 
a.  87 


5.33 

5.00 
5.110 
C).  00 
5.00 
5.00 


5.  to 
.'>.  HO 
5.60 
5.17 
5.00 
5.00 


Snont. 

Ui»r- 
Hal. 

Anal. 

Hcalea. 

ttingth 

in      I 
indies. 

1.80 

10 

0 

76 

5.26... 

2.00 

10 

9 

HO 

5.00... 

1.80 

10 

U 

77 

4.(1.1... 

1.67 

10 

0 

74 

4. as... 

1.60 

10 

9 

74 

4. 38. . . 

1.50 

10 

9 

75 

3.17... 

S.78 

a.  eo 
a.  83 
3.8a 

3.67 

a.  00 


1 

.  Dopth. 

Rye. 

Snout. 

llor- 

Hill. 

Annl. 

Srill.H 

1    5.00 

5.00 

1.42 

1. 

9 

77 

4.80 

5.25 

1.67 

10 

9 

74 

4.  75 

5.00 

1.67 

111 

0 

76 

4.67 

4.67 

1.50 

10 

9 

74 

4.07 

6.00 

1.50 

10 

B 

77 

4.00 

4.60 

1.40 

10 

• 

7H 

11.  LeuoisouB  bicolor  (Girard). 

Judging;  fron\  our  eolleetinns,  this  is  the  most  abundant  minnow  in  Upper  Klamath  Lake.     About  | 
60  were  obtained  at  the  lower  end  of  tlio  lake  November  10,  and  over  100  from  a  small  creek  at  relicati  | 
Bay  November  .5.     At  the  time  of  collecting  this  species  was  found  in  the  shallow  water  of  the  littl 
creeks  and  passages  among  the  tiiles.     The  largest  are  9  to  10  inches  l<mg,  but  only  a  few  exeieil  :i| 
inches.     Examples  2  to  3  inches  long  gave  the  following  measurements:  Mead  1;  depth  5;  eye  3.}  tn 
3J;  snout  i}  to  4i;  scales  5'J;  teeth  2,  5-5,  2.    See  illustration  on  page  7  of  this  Bulletin. 


Fm.  4.—Leueiscut  tiutlawi  Evemiann  i  Meek,  now  aiieoica. 


12.  LeuciBCUB  siusla'wi,  new  species. 

Typo  No.  48480,  U.  H.  N.  M.,  a  spoeimen  5  inches  long.  Cotypes  No.  4,3,3  U.  S.  F.  C. ;  No.  182,31. 1 
U.S.N.M.,  and  No.  ,5702,  L.  S.  Jr.,  Univ.  Mus.     Type  locality:  Siiislaw   Kiver  at  Mapleton,  Oregnii. 
Collected  September  8,  1896,  by  S.  E.  Meek. 

Head  4S;  depth  4, 'i ;  ese  4;  snout  3J ;  n.asillary  3s ;  1).  ii,  9;  A.  ii,  12  or  13;  scales  ll-.'W-H;  teetli 
2,  4-5,  2,  somewhat  hooked. 

Body  rather  slender,  slightly  elevated  and  somewhat  compressed;  head  small  and  pointed,  clieiU 
not  deep;  snout  pointed,  somewhat  longer  than  eye;  month  moderate,  somewhat  obliiiiie,  iiiaxlll.ir,\ 
.just  reaching  vertical  at  front  of  orbit;  Jaws  subeqiial,  the  lower  sometimes  slightly  projecting;  e.\e 
large,  not  as  great  as  snont.  Origin  of  dorsal  lin  behind  base  of  ventrals  and  much  nearer  base  nl 
caudal  than  tip  of  snout,  the  longest  ray  Ii  in  head,  greater  than  base  of  fin;  origin  of  anul  fln  under 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN    THE    COLUMIIIA    HIVEK    IIASIN    IN    l«it»i. 


73 


'<!  if'iiHliingliiii. 


last  dorsal  my  Itiit  two,  itn  lieijjht  oipml  to  that  ol'ilorBal,  itw  lm»e  (Mpial  to  IIh  loiij{e»t  lay;  fiio  tHlj;i'8 
of  (lorHiil  1111(1  anal  nearly  strainlil :  pcctoriil  li  to  U  In  Iixad,  not  rcarliini;  InNcrtlon  of  vuntrals; 
vcntralM  »liort,  1 !  in  )ioctoral,  icurhinK  aniiw;  raniliil  deeply  I'orkeil ;  liitiTiil  liim  eoinplutu,  iliTiirved; 
color  in  Hpirits,  browniHli  or  olivari'ouH  aliovn,  middle  of  nidi'  with  a  hroiid  tliirk  Imud  involving  the 
lateral  line  jinterlorly  and  ])o»trriorly,  lint  lyin^  chielly  iiliove  it  nieMially;  ndddle  of  Hide  from  ki'I 
openint;  to  liiMieath  dorHal  lin  with  a  liroad  rosy  l>and,  following'  iloHoly  beneath  tin-  lateral  line; 
lower  part  of  siileH  anil  nnder  jiarts  silvery,  dnHted  over  with  line  dark  upeitkn;  a  li({ht  yellow isli  band 
<'\tondinK  backward  (icnn  ni)per  poMttTior  l)orc'er  of  eye  nearly  halfway  to  origin  of  doisal  lin;  eheek 
witli  a  nilvcry  or  golden  ereHcent;  top  of  head  duik  ;  opereleHdnHky  itilvery  ;  Hnont  dnsky ;  liiiH  plain, 
orsal  and  eandal  Nomewhat  dusky.  NnmorouH  Hpeeiineiis  were  obtained  in  the  Slnslaw  River  ninl 
I  cine  from  TnilteooM  Lake. 

At  Mapleton  both  this  niinno\\  and  I'tjirhotheiliiH  i»e(ioiiciiiiix  \\n-.  known  as  "chnl),"  while  on  the 
I  lakes  south  of  Florenee  they  are  valltMl  "dace."  It  ih  probably  common  in  these  lakes,  but  a  single 
iBIHtcimen  only  was  (d)tained  there. 

Coni|iarcd  with  t.eiiriaciin  hiillialiiH,  which  our  Hpecimens  nioNt  closely  reHondili>,  the  latter  are  seen 
I  to  have  smaller  anal  and  dorsal  tins,  a  more  slender  body,  suialler  and  more  slender  he;;d,  aii(l  lon^^er, 
I  niortt  pointed  snout.     The  extent  of  variation  in  pro])ortioiuil  ineasurenients  und  iu  the  number  of  anal 
lin  rays  appears  to  be  much  less  than  in  A.  btiHeatiiH. 

This  species   also  resi^nbles   l.eucisciin  louperi  of  fiirard.      In  the  type  of   L.   cooiwri  (No.  238, 
I  r.  S.  N.  M.)  the  lower  Jaw  is  notably  shorter  and  the  snout  more  pointed. 

In  the  fnllowiiifr  statement  will  bo  found  measurements  of  a  number  of  8|)ecimens  from  Siuslaw 
iKivcr.  Mapleton,  Orejjon: 


Tiiliil 
ll-:i);tll 

:  Inchet. 

'  5.75 
■  6.50 
5.50 
0.5(1 
5.  25 
i  5.(K) 
4.50 


Iliad.  Depth.  Ey«. 


SDOut.'  °°,'^'iAnal.  {    SmIm. 


4.20 

4.  III! 

4.0(1  j 

4.17 

4.110 

4.011 

4.00 


4.17 
4.1)0 
4.17 
4.17 
4.  Ill) 
3.80 
4.17  i 


4.00 
4.  IK) 
4.00 
4.00 
4.00 
;i.  50 
3.50 


3.  .'■0 

;),6o  ' 

3.60 
U.60 
3.75 
3.60 
3.50 


13 
11 
13 
13 
12 
13 
13 


11-58-7 
12-59-7 
10  59-7 
12-fl4-« 
12-00-7 
12-00-7 
12-64-6 


Total 
longth 

Heiul. 

Ueptli.  Kyo. 

1 

Snout. 

Uiir- 

DRl. 

Anal. 

Inehtt. 

1 

4.50 

4.00 

3.  83     3.  50 

3.50 

» 

12 

4.50 

4.00 

4.00     :i.80 

3.  51) 

U 

I'i 

4.50 

4.00 

4. 40      3. 41) 

3.80 

9 

12 

4.  .50 

4.00 

;i.  SO     3.  HO 

3.  75 

9 

13 

4.25 

4.00 

4.0O  ,  3.00 

8.80 

9         11  I 

4.00 

4.00 

4.00     3.20 

4.00 

0 

13 

Scales. 


10-00-7 
10-50-7 
lO-flI-7 
10 -.59  7 
10-63-6 
10-61-7 


The  anal  lin  rays  were  counled  in  l(>  additional  specimens  with  the  follow  iu<;  results,  the  average 
I  for  the  total  2!i  specimens  bein^;  12) : 


Total 
leoKtli. 


i  No.  of 
I    nnal 
j    rays. 


Inehtt. 
5.76 
5.75 
3.00 
3.00 
2.50 


11 
13 
12 
13 
13 


Tolnl 
Iciifjlli. 


Inehei. 
2.60 
2.25 
2.26 
2.81 
2.75 


No.  of 
an  111 
rnvti. 


13 
12 
12 
13 
13 


Total  '^;;;?' 


luehft. 
2.63 
2.63 
2.6:t 
2.60 
2.13 

(t4.63 


13 
13 
13 
14 
13 
12 


n  From  the  iintlet  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake. 


11-58-8;  teeth 


13.  LeuciacuB  balteatus  (Richardson). 

Abundant  throiiKhout  the  Columbia  Hivor  basin  except  above  Shoshone  Falls.    SpeeimeuBobtained 

from  Alturas,  I'end  d'Oreille,  Gamlin,  and  Washington  lakes.     The  variation  in  the  number  of  anal  liii 

riiys  of  specimens  from  these  loealitit  s  is  shown  in  the  following  tal)le.     The  lenjrtli  is  measured  from 
j  tip  of  snout  to  base  of  caudal  iin.     The  last  ray,  though  usually  deeiily  divided,  is  cmiuted  as  one. 

There  are  usually  two  rudimentary  rays  at  front  of  iin,  which  are  not  counted.     (M  1^0  specimens 
I  from  (ianiliu  Lake,  1  lias  LI  rays,  7  have  15,  14  have  Hi,  4  have  17,  and  4  have  18,  the  average  being  16 

rnys.     of  10  specimens  from  Lake  Washington  5  have  14  rays,  H  have  1.5,  1  has  10,  and  1  has  18,  the 

average  being  15  rays. 


74 


BULLETIN   OP  THE   UNITED   STATKS    FI8II   COMMISSION. 


Tablv  thuwiiiy  vttrialion  in  the  numbtr  of  rayt  in  thi<  anal  fin  in  iMwiirui  hallratui. 


Gamlic  L*ka. 

Lake  WrhIi 
Ington. 

t.eD|[th 

Laiigtb 

Length 

LenKth 

In 

Anal. 

In 

Ankl. 

In 

Anal. 

in 

Anal. 

inchu. 

luoliei. 
1.63 

16 

Inohe*. 
1.75 

16 

Incheii. 
2.75 

1.88 

ID 

1  88 

14 

1.50 

16 

1.76 

18 

3.18 

1.88 

10 

1    100 

18 

1.75 

15 

2.50 

1.88 

IT 

;    3.18 

15 

2.00 

16 

3.13 

1.7S 

15 

;    1.75 

17 

2.00 

16 

3.13 

2.00 

tu 

1.88 

16 

1.63 

18 

8.  SO 

1.88 

15 

1.88 

18 

1.88 

10 

3.60 

1.75 

16 

1.75 

15 

1.75 

13 

4.00 

1.75 

17 

1.75 

17 

1.60 

15 

3.75 

18 

1.63 

16 

1.76 

15 

a4.75 

16 

3. 88 

li 

a  From  Lake  Fend  d'UniUI*. 

14.  Rutilua  bioolor  (Oiraid). 

NiiiiierouH  gpeciiiiuiiH  obtaiii«d  in  a  slonfjh  at  Pelican  Bay  and  otbeni  at  tlie  i^  illi  riid  of  rppil 
Kliuiiath  Lake.     Sointt  went  caught  in  a  gill  net,  others  in  u  Hniall  dip  net.  such     <  i«  ii"''il  by  Kluiuiitl 
Indians;  a  few  were  taken  on  a  set  line,  but  the  majority  were  obtained  by  means  i>    a  aniall  mdnc.  \i 
small  NloMgliN  or  lagoons  at  the  south  end  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake.     It  seems  to  be  one  of  tli<- ijuhI 
abundant  species  occiirriug  in  the  lake.    The  largest  measure  about  U  inches  in  total  length.    'I'ln 
dues  not  appear  to  be  nii'ch  variation  in  tlie  number  of  scales  or  tin  rays,  or  in  proportii>nal  ineaNiiri'| 
ments,  as  is  shown  in  the  folluwing  table.     The  Indiaus  use  tliis  species  for  Uait  when  flshin;;  tn 
trout  near  Klamath  Fulls,  the  average  length  of  those  thus  used  being  about  I  inches.     It  is  caii;!li| 
in  large  numbers  in  dip  nets  in  the  edge  of  the  tules.     This  species  is  liguiei!  on  pageK  of  this  Itnllitiri 

Table  thowing  variation  in  IS  tpeoimene  of  lluMui  bioolor  from  Upper  Klamath  Ltke,  Oregon. 


LnnKth  In 
Inonoa, 

9.00 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Huoiit. 

Maxil- 
lary . 

Dorsal. 

Anal. 

Heals*. 

3.75 

3. 75 

7.00 

3.50 

4.00 

49 

9.2!> 

3.75 

3.07 

6.00 

3.50 

3.75 

49 

6.00 

3.  7t, 

3.75 

5.60 

3.75 

4.25 

i» 

4.  50 

4.00 

4.00 

4.60 

4.00 

4.20 

8 

47 

4.50 

3.70 

3.75 

4.50 

4.00 

4.25 

it 

4.  2.'> 

4.00 

4.00 

4.60 

4.00 

4.25 

46 

5.2.1 

3.50 

4.00 

5.00 

3.50 

4.33 

« 

11.75 

3.50 

4.00 

4.26 

.1.67 

4.25 

40 

3.75 

3.50 

4.00 

4.50 

4.00 

4.00 

44 

3.5U 

3.60 

3.76 

4.26 

4.00 

4.  M 

44 

3.60 

3.50 

4.25 

4.20 

4.00 

4.33 

47 

3. 50 

•3.67 

4.25 

4.00 

4.00 

4.25 

47 

2.50 

3.  60 

4.33 

3.50 

4.50 

4.25 

"i 

15.  RhinichthyB  dulcis  (Girard). 

One  specimen  from  Wallowa  Lake.     The  origin  of  the  dorsal  is  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and 
base  of  caudal  peduncle. 

16.  Agosia  klamathensia,  new  species 

Type  No.  48225,  U.  8.  N.  M. :  cotvpes  No.  .5704,  L.  8.  .Jr.  Univ.  Mus.  and  No.  4.-»l,  U.  8.  K,  ( 
Typo  locality  at  month  of  the  small  creek  which  Hows  into  the  arm  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake  callcc 
Pelican  Hay,  where  numerous  specimens  were  collected  November  3,  18it0,  by  Dr.  Seth  E.  Meek  ami 
Mr.  A.  li.  Alexander.     Length  of  type  2i  inches,  measured  to  last  candal  vertebra. 

Close  to  Agosia  niihila. 

An  examination  of  a  large  seriesof  specimens  of  Afionia  from  Ui>per  Klamath  Lake  and  a  compan- 
of  them  with  specimens  of  A.  itubila  from  various  localities  show  the  lish  from  this  lake  t<i  possess  certa  il 
characters  which  serve  to  distinguish  it  from  typical  A.niibila.     While  the  differences  are  sligiit.  th^ 
are  plainly  evident  and  must  be  recognized,  and  we  therefore  describe  this  form  as  a  new  speclcH. 

Head  4;  depth  4) ;  eye  4^  in  head;  snout  3^.    D. i,  8;  A. i,  7;  scales  about  14-78-10  (average,  'i 
in  49  specimens). 


SALMON    INVEftTIOATI  ).vS    IN   T    K    f'OLl'MUIA    MIVEIi    IIAHIN    IN    1«!MI. 


75 


tijiof  snout  anJ 


Koily  rnliiiHt,  .suhcylinilrioiil,  Itiick  Hoiiinwhut  «lt!V»ti'il;  Hiimit  riitlii'i'  Ioiik,  niimlli  iiiteriiir,  litthi 
liihlique,  tlifl  liiwtir  Jiivv  liii'liidixl ;  iiiitxilluiy  not  mirliiiiK  IVoiit  ul'  nrliit;  ii|)|ii'r  lip  witlioiit  tVi'iiiiiii; 
llKirbel  )ireHimt,  but  hiiiiUI,     l.iitonil  lino  iiiriiiii|ilotf,  iiitrrrii|>teil  in  iiiiiiiy  iiliicim,  nhout  'M)  porrit  iWvi'l- 

i>po<I,  OrJKi"  of  •lor'^'il  liii  iiii<hvuy  hetwreii  front  of  pupil  iirid  Iiiiho  of  ciiiiilul  t\ii ;  pevtoralN  riitlior 
|»liort,i'cncliiiig  iiliont  tlircf-foiiitliH  tlui  iliNtiincc-  Ik  Iihhi'  of  vcntrulM;  \  rut  nils  rciicliinj;  vent  j  anal  lar);«, 
|ltN  loUKost  ray  U  in  licail;  cuuilal  widely  forknl. 

Color  in  alcnliol.  olivacroiis,  iiiottlKil  anil  lilotclied  with  tliirker  on  back  and  Hidtw;  nnditr  ])ikrtM 
Ipalu;  an  o))Ki'iircpMli)  HtriMtk  fnirii  (\v(t  to  Iimho  of  i-audal  lin,  liclnw  wliiili  in  a  liroad  dark  band;  dorBal, 
l|ic<:toriilM,  and  caudal  diiHky  ;  other  fniN  |daii.< ;  a  liliu'k  blotih  at  l>aHu  of  cuiidul. 

An  exiiniination  of  this  IH  H))fcinienH  whicli  wo  dcNijjnato  an  cotyjifs  »howM  nil  the  important  cliar- 
|a(t«rH  to  Im  fairly  coiiMtant.     'I'li«  barl)nl  \h  in  a  f«\v  (iihch  obscnn"  or  |i(iHsild\  aliNcnt.     The  nnniber 

(if  HcalcH  ill  a  traimverHe  line  vanes  from  (is  to  ~X,  the  averafje  beinj;  I'.i.  'I'lie  lateral  line  is  in  all  caHes 
llni  (>ni|detn,  tliou);h  in  ditVi^rent  dofjreea;  Honietinirs  it  is  einitiniions  for  only  ll  or  H  seales.  after  wliieli 
ItliiTu  are  Heveral  interriiptiouH  and  uuly  8  to  10  nioru  poroM;  in  otliers  thi:re  are  20  to  lid  pores  in  a 
IrontiiinoiiH  serieH. 


Flo.  R.—Aiiiitiii  lliiiiiiilhi  ii^it  KM'nniiiili  A  Meok,  now  HpcriiH, 

This  form  is  distinguished  from  .Ujosia  niihihi  ehielly  by  tlio  smaller  size  of  the  scab's.     This 
IdiU'erenco  will  appear  from  an  examination  of  the  tal>ular  statement  which  follows: 

Table  showing  number  of  scales  in  Ayosia  niibila  utiil  Jijosia  klamalhaixiH. 


Locality. 


Ko.  of  VariBliun  AvernKe 
iipeciiiH'119  in  iiioiilM!r  iiiinilieruf 
exniiiiiii'il.  Ill'  mules,     males. 


.li;o«irt  nubiia: 

L'olvillo  Itivir,  Mnvpm  Falln 

Lilllii  SpoUany  Uivor,  Dint  »  Mill.. 

HaiiKinnu Crook,  Lokuii,  W'linli 

Lake  I'n'iir  d'AU'iic 

Nowaukiiin  lUvor,  Clii'lialiH 

HoIki)  Kiver,  Caldwell 

I'litlatcli  (Irerk.LrwiKtiiii 

Pntahn  Kiver,  .Starbiick 

Walla  Walla  Kiver.  Wallula 

Mill  Crook.  Walla  Walla 

ITiiiutilla  Kiver,  I'oiiilliton 

Ciiluiiiliia  Ki vor,  riiintilln 

NatclioHH  Kiver,  North  Vakiiiiia    .. 

Slioiikiiiiii'liiii'k  Kiver,  Clielialiii 

Agotia  k'lauiathemix : 

I'eliran  Hay,  ippur  Klaiiiatli  Lake. 


lU 
9 

(M 
I 

lu 
0 

1.1 

20 


(') 
6 

4» 


52-57 

.ii-es 

64-70 

53-58 

66 

flO-6« 
•10 -114 
47-.'i.'i 
Wi  «1 
48-58 
4H-.')7 

50-57 

68-78 


55 
fl'2 
07 
06 
.15 
50 
«2 
Ii2 
49 
55 
r,2 
5a 
58 


73 


K-10  (avetane, 


17.  Clupanodon  oaeruleuB  (Oirard).     California  Sardine. 

Very  abnndont  in  SiuHlaw  Kiver  about  the  eannery  wharf  at  K'oreneo  diirino;  the  .aiininR  season. 
It  seemH  to  disappetir  as  Ho<m  as  the  fall  rains  st^t  in  and  the  river  beeomes  lillctl  with  fresh  water. 
The  specimens  seen  were  each  about  '2k  inchos  in  length. 


76 


BULLETIN   OP   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


18.  Alosa  BapidisBima  (Vv  iltion).     Common  EanUTn  Shad. 
During  tho  siiluion  (isliiiiK  seuHoii  of  189fi  iu  the  SiiiHlaw  River  about  a  dozen  shad  were  takim--! 

one  in  a  Hulnion  ^ill  net  near  Miqileton  uboiit  tho  middle  of  0<'tober,  the  others  in  Hiihuon  scincK  at  I 
Acme  in  September  and  October.     The  specimeu  eaught  near  Mapleton  iH  a  male  18  inchcH  long  audi 
weighing  about  2.^  poundf).     The  apermai'icH  are  but  slightly  developed,  inilieating  that  the  K|i;nviiiiig 
seaHon  would  be  some  months  earlier  than  when  this  liah  was  taken.     Head  4;  depth  3;  urbit  \\- 
snout  4.^ ;  maxillary  2;  gill-rakers  35+68  on  tho  left  and  36+68  on  the  right. 

The  tirnt  planting  of  shad  on  the  I'acillc  eoast  was  made  in  1871  by  Mr.  Seth  Green,  who  liboratcil  | 
»!.out  10,000  fry  in  the  Sacramento  l{iver  27.5  miles  above  Sacramento.    The  second  plant  was  maili'  i" 
.Inly,  1873,  by  Mr.  Livingston  Stone,  wboplneed  36,000  fry  i'\  the  Sacramento  River  at  Tehama.     Vari- 
ous subHe(|uent  plants  have  been  made  by  l'\e  U.  .S.  I'Msh  CommiMsion  iu  ('alifornia,  all  at  Tihaiiia.  tlie| 
last  plakt  ha\  ing  been  made  in  1880.     Kcsides  these  plants  nuide  iu  the  Sacramento  liiver,  iKl.tHlorrv 
were  plaeed  in  the  Willamette  River  at  Portland  and  10,000  in  Suako  River  in  188,'".     In  188(>.  ."i.MVKlO  j 
fry  were  liberated  in  the  Willamette  River  at  Albany,  and  300,000  iu  the  Columbia  at  Wallnl.i  .Iniic- 
tion.     In  1884,  188.5,  and  1886,  2,6.51,n(K)  shad  fry  were  placed  iu  the  Colorado  River  at  The  Nt  edles,  | 
Arizona.    No  investigation  has  ever  been  made  for  the  purpose  of  det«rmiuing  the  result  of  the  iii.iiit- 
iugs  uniile  in  the  Colorado  River  and  it  is  not  known  whether  any  of  the  fry  survived.     Tlir  reHiilts 
from  tho  plrats  made  in  California  and  Oregon,  however,  are  little  less  than  marvelous,  as  sliowu  by  I 
Dr.  H.  M.  .S:nith  iu  a  recent  paper.* 

From  tlio  Sacramento  and  Columbia  rivers  shad  have  spread  to  Los  Angeles  County,  California, 
on  tho  south,  and  Wraugcil  Islaud,  Alaska,  on  the  north.     They  had  spreail  from  San  Francisco  to  the  I 
Columbia  River  as  early  as  1880,  and  by  1882  had  been  taken  at  various  places  along  the  Washingtiin  j 
coast.     The  only  passages  through  which  the  planted  shad  could  reach  the  sea  are  the  niontli  of  thi' 
Columbia  River  and  the  (roldeu  (iate.     From  these  points  they  have  spread  up  and  down  the  raciii' 
coast  a  distance  of  mor«)  than  1,300  miles.    This  is  greater  than  its  range  in  latitude  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.    Not  only  have  they  spread  to  these  distant  points,  but  shad  have  tieen  reported  from  a  iiiimbir  | 
of  intermediate  jdaees,  among  which  are  Monterey  Hay,  Drake  Bay,  Klamath  River,  Rogue  h'iver, 
lJm|>i|na  River,  Siusliiw  River,  Fraser  River,  and  the  north  end  of  Vancouver  Island. 

These  facts  iu  tho  distributi<m  of  the  shad  on  the  Pacific  coast  are  of  extreme  interest  .iiid  | 
importance  as  bearing  directly  upon  tho  belief,  still  more  or  less  prevalent,  that  auadrouioiis  lislies 
possess  a  mysterious  geographic  instinct  which  leads  them  bock  to  the  stream  in  which  tlicy  were  I 
s|)awiind.  While  the  number  of  shad  entering  the  Columbia  and  San  Francisco  Hay  is  far  gri  atiT  than 
that  for  all  Hie  other  rivers  combined,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  many  shad  have  found  their  \\  iiy  to 
other  and  distant  streams.  The  extent  to  which  this  has  occurred  seems  to  us  fully  siillicicnt  tu 
disprove  the  possession  by  the  shad  of  any  "special  geographic  instinct."  Wo  believe  the  same  to 
be  true  of  the  various  kinds  of  salmon  anil  other  anadromous  species.  The(|uestion  is  iu  need  of  t'lirthor 
research,  but  iuvestigatioiis  already  made  iudicate  that  anadromoiis  tishns,  like  migrating  birds,  Mte  | 
guided  iu  their  nioveuionts  by  landmarks  or  other  tangible  physical  featurcb  or  conditions. 

The  young  shad  hatched  in  any  given  stream  go  down  to  the  sea,  but  probably  do  not  ordinarily  | 
wander  far  from  the  mouth  of  that  particular  river.     When  they  become  mature,  and  jiliysii'luniial 
unrest,  due  to  the  develo]mieut  of  the  rejirodiictive  organs,  comes  on,  they  begin  to  search  for  snlliiliK' 
spawning-bods,  and   the  chances  are  they  will    find  the  river  in  which  they  were  hatdii'd.     The  I 
majority  will  find  this  stream,  while  those  that  wandered  farthest  from  its  mouth  may  liud  others  J 
which  they  will  inter. 

19.  CoregonuB  MrilliamBool  (iirard.     liocky  Mouvtain  Whiiejith. 
Oiuumou  throughout  tho  Columbia  River  basin.     S|>eeinions  obtained  from  Altnras,  I'  lud  irnieillo,  j 

and  Wallowa  lakes,  Des  Chutes  River  at  Sherar's  Bridge,  and  Hig  White  Salmon  River.     A  spcciincn  j 
10  inches  long,  taken  in  the  gill  net  in  Altnras  Inlet  July  27,  has  th4<  bead  .5;  depth  44;   tye  Vi\  snout 
3?;  maxillary  3J;  1).  12;  A.  U  ;  scales  86. 

Another  example,  a  female,  12^  inches  long  and  with  well-developed  roe,  was  taken  with  the  hook 
at  Sherar's  Bridge  August  30.  Head  .5;  depth  A'i;  eye  5;  snout  3^^;  maxillary  'M, ;  1).  13;  A.  11 ;  scales 
88.  Li  this  sjieeimuii  the  adipose  tin  is  remarkably  largo,  its  base  being  half  length  of  head,  it« 
height  6i  in  lieail.  This  species  spawns  in  October  at  Hig  Fayette  Lake,  in  Idaho,  but  the  cdinlitioii 
of  tbb  ovaries  of  the  specimen  taken  at  Sherar's  Bridge  indicates  a  much  earlier  spawning  pciiod. 

*  A  Review  of  the  Historv  and  Results  of  the  Attempts  to  acclimatize  Fish  and  other  Water  .'  niiuain 
iu  tho  I'acillc  States,  in  Hull'.  U.  S.  F.  C.  1895,  407. 


SALMON   INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN   IK    1896. 


77 


ir  Water    iiiiual" 


0.  Oncorhynchus  keta  (VVu'liauin).     hog  Salmon. 

According  to  Mr.  Alexnndei,  thin  Halinmi  usually  rnmnien('e.s  to  run  in  tlie  Koiithcrn  part  of  I'liget 

joiiiid  about  the  middle  of  October  and  continims  until  the  first  of  December.     In  IXito  and  ISiWi  they 

•r  (|uile  numerous.     IJnrinj;  fall  and  winter  all  the  small  crt^eks,  lagoons,  and  slougliM  near  Duwam- 

(>n('.  Cedar  rivers  are  tilled  with  rlog  salmon,  and  boys  find  great  anuisement  killing  tht'ui  with 

l)H  und  stonew.     In  the  rivulets  by  the  roadside,  where  the  wattT  is  not  over  2  or  3  inches  deep,  dog 

Llmoii  may  be  seen  trying  to  get  farther  upstream.    At  such  times  they  are  in  poor  condition  and  nu 

)  is  ninde  of  them. 

T1k>  ro'idition  of  the  dog  salmon  in  .January,  1897,  was  unusually  good.  These  tish  were  plump  in 
fpeuranoe  and  marked  with  that  brightness  which  they  possess  when  first  coming  from  the  ocean. 
i  tliB  opinion  of  some  of  the  dealers  many  of  the  .January  ( 1897)  run  were  fresh  from  the  ocean.  Their 
\(gs,  like  those  of  tlie  steclhead,  showed  various  degi-ees  of  developnu^ut;  most  of  the  fish  were  well 
Advanced,  however.  It  has  been  only  a  few  years  since  it  was  known  that  any  species  other  than  the 
^«lkead  was  to  I>e  fonnd  in  I'uget  Snund  during  winter,  but  it  is  now  thought  that  salmon  have 
ays  been  more  or  less  plentiful  in  I'uget  Sound  during  the  winter  months — not  a  heavy  run,  but 
^oiigh  to  supply  tlie  local  demand.  In  former  years,  there  being  no  sale  for  salmon  after  the  canneries 
I'losed,  fishing  was  almost  wholly  sns))ended  until  the  next  season.  As  soon,  however,  as  the 
[iperiinent  of  shijyping  fresh  baliuon  to  eastern  markets  ])roved  a  success,  a  new  industry  was  opened, 
8(1  lisliermen  who  had  hitherto  given  no  thought  to  wint«-r  tishing  now  began  to  investigate  the 
liters  of  I'uget  Hound  out  of  season,  and  the  result  is  that  a  winter  fishery  of  considerable  importance 
I  been  intioduied  in  Seattle  and  other  places  on  the  sound  and  is  increasing  yearly.  The  .steelhead 
jitlie  most  valuable  tish  for  shipment  to  eastern  marketH,  as  it  reaches  its  destination  in  better  coudi- 
hn  tlian  other  species. 

p.  Onoorhynchns  tschavrytBcha  (Walbaum).     Chinook  mlmon. 

Very  few  chinook  salmon  came  to  the  headwaters  of  Salmon  River  in  1896,  i)erhaps  not  over  a 
)tjen,  where  there  were  about  1,M)  in  189'.  The  number  which  came  to  the  Wallowa  spawning-beds 
I  also  very  small.  Important  spawning-beds  were  found  in  Little  White  Salmon  River,  and  I'on- 
^erable  numbers  were  found  spawning  in  I5ig  White  Salmon  River,  Eagle  Creek,  and  Tanner  Creek. 

Vouug  chinooks  were  found  in  Siasiaw  River  in  considerable  numbers  and  a  few  weie  obtaint-d  in 
l»ke  Washington,  Two  specimens,  2^  and  2j  inches  in  length,  respectively,  from  the  mouth  of  Hig 
fbite  Salmon  agree  perfectly  with  those  gotten  in  1895  at  Alturas  Lake.  These  two  specimens  were 
pidently  hatched  the  preceding  winter. 

Nine  specimens  from  the  Siuslaw  River,  caught  with  hook  and  line  at  Florence,  October  14, 1896; 
ingtli.  .5,  .5^.  6,  (W,  6i,  7,  7, 7,  and  7i  inches  respectively,  .Salmon  of  this  size  are  very  abundant  about 
cannery  wharf  during  the  canning  season.  They  are  easily  caught  with  hooks  baited  with 
limon  eggs. 

Two  specimens  llj  and  11 J  inches  in  length  from  Seattle,  Washington,  caught  December  S,  1896. 

leso  specimens  were  no  doul>t  hatched  during  the  winter  of  1894-93.    One  specim<-n,  0  inches  long,  was 

en  with  a  seine  near  the  mouth  of  the  Siuslaw  River  December  9,  IH%,     It  is  the  same  age  as  the 

nriniens  mentioned  above  from  Florence.     One  sun»!l,  nearly  ripe  uuile,  length  18*  inches,  from  the 

i«la\v  River  at  Maplet(m,  Oregon,  was  caught  on  a  hook  baited  with  salmon  eggs.     A  few  other 

wiiiious  of  the  same  size  were  caught  in  the  same  way  while  tishing  for  trout  about  (Ji'tober  21.    We 

unformed  that  it  is  not  uncommon  to  catch  thesi;  tish  with  baited  hooks. 

A  few  of  these  small  male  salmon  were  seen  on  the  spawning-beds  in  the  North  Fork,  near 
JTmerva,  October  23  and  24.  They  were  nmtilated  the  same  as  the  larger  ones,  and  on<'  was  in  a  dying 
pailition. 

On  September  9  Mr,  A.  H.  Alexander  e.xantined  129  chiuook  salmon  in  the  Florence  cannery;  of 

«  "(i  were  fenuiles  and  .53  were  males;  25  of  the  females  and  13  of  the  males  were  fully  developed. 

> September  11  he  examined  ,'>46 chinooks;  of  these  317  were  females  and  22!)  nuiles;  229  females  and 

|iO  nialo.t  were  nearly  ripe.     There  were  among  this  number  25  small  fish  from  18  to  25  inches  in 

ngtli ;  these  wore  as  fully  developed  as  the  large  ones. 

I'liring  the  latter  part  of  Se)>t«mber  arul  early  part  of  October,  Mr,  Alexauiler  examined  numy 
piniHik  salmon  at  Celilo  und  obtained  much  valuable  information  as  to  their  spawning  condition. 
»oni'  lot  of  119  fish  oxauiined  57  vere  males  and  62  females;  34  males  and  47  fenuiles  wore  nearly  or 
|iite  lipe,  and  would  have  spawned  by  the  Xth  or  lOtli  of  Oetolter.  , 

111  the  following  tables  is  given  a  record  of  the  fish  examined  by  Mr.  Alexander. 


78  BULLETIN  OF   THE   UNITED   STATES  FI8F   COMMISSION. 

Chinook  salmon  taken  in  flsh-wheeh  by  Mr.  J.  H,  Taffe,  Celilo,  Oregon,  S<>ptember  la  to  2J,  ISOG. 


Date. 

Malea. 

Vcmalos. 

Total. 

N"n.ber.l™»: 

Nu^-ber.    WeU^«: 

Sfipt  18. 

1806. 

19 

8 
IR 

10 
5 
11 

g 

0 

28 
18 
53 
20 

10.. 
21 

10  ;        6 

35                26 
8                  6 

22.. 

12                  8 

57 

34 

«2                47 

t 

119 

AnioTiK  tho  IIM  Chinook  salinon,  13  small  ones  were  fonnd,  iill  inalcH,  and  their  milt  as  iiilly 
developed  as  that  iu  larger  fish.    Sometimes  the  wheels  take  these  fish  in  <  onsiderahle  numbers. 

Chinook  salmon  taki-n  by  Mr.  F.  A.  tfeu/ert,  at  Celilo,  Oregon,  September  25  to  October  13,  1S0>!, 


Date. 

MalcR. 

FemaleM.         1 

Niiiubr  r. 

82 
15 

100 
5« 
58 
60 

122 
63 
43 
77 

Well  lie. 
veloped. 

Number. 

Well  de- 
veloped, j 

Total. 

1896. 
gept  25            

87 
11 
83 
47 
60 
60 

tos 

56 
38 
69 

64 
17 
80 
70 

! 

61     ' 
17 
76 
n.1    , 

146 

2R 

32 

27 

108 

28        

126 

20 

40                44 

lUu 

Oct       2        

76 
148 
(17 
51 

73 
lU 
6.') 
51 

130 

5  

270 

7 

13U 

10  

U4 

i;, 

8«    !            64 

165 

683 

574 

710    j          0S8 

1,402 

In  a  total  of  683  inalrn  and  719  femalea  Mr.  Alexander  found  674  males  and  658  females  whirli,  in 
his  judgment,  wore  nearly  ripe,  hi  otiier  words,  >'i  per  <.'eut  of  tho  males  andiM)  percent  of  tlic  li  iimIis 
woulil  h.'ive  spawnid  between  the  first  and  middle  of  October.  These  observationn  indicate  ili:il 
Chinook  Halumu  can  be  obtained  abundantly  at  Celilo  by  wheels  and  that  if  retained  a  tew  fliiys  tl  I'y 
would  be  ripe  enough  for  stripping.  Wbotlier  the  wheels  Nerioiisly  injure  the  (inIi  I'an  be  detemii.ied 
only  utter  actual  oxpcinent  with  (ish  so  caughi.  If  the  wheels  do  not  injure  them  tliey  can  p'iili:ili|y 
be  kept  until  fully  ripe  in  projierly  constructed  retaining  boxes  or  ponds,  as  was  dcnionstratnl  l^y 
e.\periments  at  Majiletoii,  Oregon. 

According  to  Mr.  Alexander  chinook  salmon  appear  in  the  lower  part  of  Paget  Sound  about  tlic 
1st  of  May  and  continue  to  iiKToase  in  numbers  until  .Inly.  Scattering  ones  are  taken,  hnwiMi. 
throughout  tho  year  in  all  jtartsof  the  sound. 

22.  OucorbyncbuB  kisutch  (Walbauin).    .Silrer  snlmnn. 

Onr  collection  contains  specimens  of  this  sjiecics  as  follows: 

Three  ripe  males,  one  It!  inches  in  length,  caught  December  1  iu  Whoabink  Lake,  the  other  lw>>, 
16  and  17j  inches  respectively,  December  3,  in  Tsiltcoos  Lake.  Speciuieiis  of  lhi«  size  and  very  inin  h 
smaller  wore  freiiuently  caught  iu  the  seine  at  Acme.  Not  less  than  60  of  these  were  oxamineil.  Ml 
were  males  with  sexual  organs  as  highly  developed  as  in  the  larger  ones. 

One  large  ripe  male  from  Tsilti'oos  Lake,  caught  in  a  gill  net  December  3,  \HiH\.  Immaculate,  Imi  I 
with  a  bluish  tinge,  body  bright  red,  mouth  much  distorted.     Locally  called  "  h<iokbilled  Nilveriiile." 

'J  here  is  a  moderately  NUiall  form  of  the  silver  salmon  in  the  Siiislaw  River  I'alled  IiIuiIm  K. 
which  roseuiblo  tlui  true  bluebaek  in  si/.e,  furui,  and  cidoi',  but  are  more  spotted.  Twuspecimi'iiN,  H^  ;iii<l 
10  inches  in  length  respectively,  from  Tsiltcoos  Lake  near  outlet,  Deoivmber  2,  1X!I6.  Mack,  brownisli 
blue;  dorsal,  nearly  black,  darker  on  ]iosterior  part;  pectorals,  light  brownish  ;  veutials,  while;  iii.il 
tin  with  a  dark  shade.     Those  speciuieiis  were  probably  hatched  during  tho  winter  of  ISUl-lO. 

Two  speuimeus  from  Suattle,  Washington,  lUj  iuchos  iu  length. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN    IN    1896. 


79 


Six  mature spocimenH  from  Union  Lake  near  Seattle,  Wasbingtou,  4  males  and  'J  females. 
Of  the  small  specimens,  no  doubt  batched  during  the  winter  of  l«9,">-!)ti,  our  (M)llurtion  lontains 
the  following: 

Two  specimens,  2J  and  3J  inolies  in  length  respectively,  hatched  during  the  winter  of  189.")-!Ki  by 
I  Mr.  L.  E.  Bean  at  Maploton  and  retained  in  a  small  spring  I)rool<  until  .September  it,  189(1. 

One,  3|  inehes  long,  caught  in  a  seine  in  Siuslaw  Kiver  below  Florence  December  8,  189(i. 
Two  8i>oeimen8,  .5J  and  58  inches  respectively,  cangbl  witli  a  seine  in  Tsiltcoos  Lake  December  1, 
W!I6.    All  three  with  parr  marks  present;  no  red  on  sides;  dorsal,  adipose,  and  caudal  tins  yellowish; 
nuidal  reddish  near  tips;  pectoral  and  ventrals  yellowish. 

During  the  latter  part  of  September  and  early  part  of  October  Mr.  Alexander  was  at  Celilo,  on  the 
Culumbia  River,  and  made  some  valuable  observations  upon  the  silver  salmon,  lie  examined  a  tot.il  of 
:',:'f)8  fish  of  this  species,  all  of  wbiih  be  found  well  advanced,  indicating  to  bim  that  they  would 
I  ipawn  before  the  middle  of  October. 

Silrer  talmon  examined  hy  Mr.  .llejrandcr  at  Celilo. 


Date. 


T»keii  in  w'.ieclii  bv  Mr.  Taffe: 

SBpt.l8,lS9« 

Sepl.l9,l»)6 

Sept.  21, 1896 

Sept.  22, 1808 


Taken  in  oeinrs  by  Mr.  Seafert : 

Svpt.26, 1896 

Sept. 27, 1896 

Sopt.28,  1896 ., 

Sept.2«,1896 

Oct.  2, 1896 

(>ot.5,18g6 

Oct,  7,1896 

Oct.  10, 1806 

Oct.  13, 1806 


Silver  salmon  first  appear  in  the  southern  end  of  Puget  Sound  about  the  Ist  of  .Septemlter,  and  the 
\mi  usually   lasts  until  the  tirst  or   middle  of  November.     A  few   individuals  are  taken  an  late  as 
|I>ccember,  after  which  few  artt  seen  in  the  sound,  but  a  good  many  are  caught  in  Duwamish  River. 
|13,  Ouoorbynohus  nerka  (Walbaum).     Ill  iifba<'k-  Salmon;  "  Hcdjish";  "  Sovk-ei/v." 

The  investigations  made  in  Idaho  in  1894  and  189,*)  resulted  in  settling  some  of  the  disputed 
l^aestions  concerning  the  ledtisb,  but  left  others  still  in  doubt.  The  details  of  the  observatiouH  niacin 
lin  those  years  will  Ui  fouiul  in  the  reports  already  published.  *  A  summary  of  the  conclusions  reached 
p^arding  the  life-history  of  the  redfish  is  given  on  page  l(i  of  this  article. 

Although  no  satisfactory  evidence  was  obtained  as  to  the  occurrence  of  the  small  form  anywhere 
lin  the  stream  below  the  lakes,  this  was  not  considtired  proof  that;  it  does  not  come  up  from  the  sea. 
I^Hi  close  is  its  resemblance  to  the  native  trout,  except  at  spawning  time,  that  it  would  probably  not 
|ittract  the  attention  of  anyone,  even  if  seen  below  the  lakes. 

In  order  to  obtain  morn  di-linite  results  in  the  study  of  this  problem,  the  redtish  lakes  of  Idaho 
Irere  again  visited  in  IMtNi.  Camp  was  establishetl  .Inly  II,  on  Alturtks  Lake  ( 'reek  at  the  crossing  of 
llhu  trail  a  short  distance  below  i'erkins  Lake,  (iill  nets  were  set  in  the  outlet  the  same  day  and  were 
lipptset  until  September  25.  Tbcie  nets  were  examined  from  day  to  day  during  the  entire  period  of 
•'venty-six  days  and  not  a  single  redtish  was  caught  in  them.  The  \\  ater  was  so  high  and  the  current 
I  swift  during  the  (Irst  tt-n  days  the  nets  were  set  that  it  was  impossible  to  place  them  so  as  to  wholly 
[tbstruct  the  stream.    It  is  therefore  possible  that  flsh  may  have  ikscended  the  stream  and  passeil  the  nets 

'A  Preliminary  iieport  upon  Sahnon  Investigations  in  Idaho  in  1894,  by  Barton  W.  Evermann, 
Bull.  IT.  8.  I".  C.  l«9h,  l'53-2«4, 

A  Report  upon  Salmon  Investigations  in  thi>  Headwaters  of  the  ('oluinbia  K'iver,  in  the  State  of 
llilalio,  in  I8!t,'>-  together  with  Notes  upon  th<(  Fishes  observed  in  that  State  in  1894  uud  189.">,  by  Barton 
h'.  Evermauu,  Bull.  U.  S.  F.  C.  18U<>,  149-202,  plates  67-72. 


80 


BULLETIN   OP   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


diiriug  tbut  time.  This,  however,  is  iiuimibable.  Our  camp  was  sitiiaterl  upon  the  bunk  of  the  stream, 
the  water  was  at  al]  times  very  clear,  and  wo  were  able  to  keep  close  watch  for  (mh.  If  imv  i(ilii>|, 
had  come  up  during  thoNO  ten  days  it  is  more  tlian  probalde  they  would  have  been  seen  by  sonic  nl  ii>. 
After  July  22  tliesn  uctu  were  examined  usually  about  three  timrs  each  week,  and  tli(iiifi;li  oth(»i-  li^li(~. 
such  as  yellowbellies,  Dolly  Varden  trout,  suckers,  and  whitotish,  were  caught  by  them,  no  leillisli, 
eitlier  large  or  small,  were  taken.  IJnt  small  redtisli  wore  in  the  lake  at  least  as  early  as  July  1(1.  iiml 
they  began  entering  the  inlet  August  3.  Between  August  3  and  August  28  the  number  in  the  inli  t 
increased  rapidly  until  the  latter  date,  when  1, .")(>!)  were  counted. 

The  first  small  redtish  seen  was  caught  on  a  honk  in  .Mtiiras  Lake,  Just  oft'  the  inlet,  .Inly  Iti,  liy 
Mr.  Maddren,  while  fishing  for  Dolly  Varden  trout.     The  hook  was  baited  with  salmon  spawn.     Tlii> 
fish  was  a  male  Hi  inches  in  total  length,  and  the  stomach  contained  a  small  amount  of  InstMt  liirv;i'. 
Of  the  many  examples,  taken  by  a  gill  net  in  Alturas  Inlet  on  August  (i,  1)  were  examined,  only  oiic  ni'i 
which  showed  any  trace  of  food  in  the  stomach. 

Twelve  specimens,  caught  with  grab-hook  in  Wallowa   Lake  about  the  1st  of  Septeiiilier  by  .Mi 
J.  J.  Stanley,  were  all  (|iiite  fat,  and  food  was  found   iu  the  stomachs  of  all  but  three.     This  I'ikmI  | 
consisted  chiefly  of  small  crustaceans,  a  few  insect  larvie,  and  some  gelatinous  alga,  prcdiMlily  a  Sniln 

Among  the  fishes  from  Lake  Washington  are  .">  redtish,  3  of  which  are  7  to  H  inches  long,  the  utliiT  | 
2  about  1  inches  each.  These  were  all  collected  June  !.">  by  Mr.  Alexander.  Kach  eontiiiiis  niDrc  in 
less  food  iu  the  stomach.  Two  other  uinall  redtish  were  obtained,  which  bad  been  taken  on  the  ll.v  li\ 
Mr.  K.  L.  Kellogg  while  fishing  in  l^aku  Sammamish  about  May  !.'>. 

Whether  this  tish  is  anadromous  or  not  is  an  exceedingly  difficult  matter  to  determine.  If  it  cniin - 
up  from  the  sea  it  reaches  the  lakes  much  earlier  in  the  summer  or  8]>ring  than  has  hitherto  been  sup 
posed.  The  fact  that  it  feeds  while  in  the  lakes  is  now  fully  established,  and  it  apparently  coiitiniK  - 
to  feed  almost  or  quite  to  the  time  when  it  runs  into  the  inlets  for  spawning.  The  one  with  loml  in  { 
its  stomach,  taken  in  Alturas  Inlet  August  6,  had  Just  reached  the  inlet  on  that  night.  The  spciiinrii' 
from  Wallowa  Lake  were  caught  in  the  upper  end  of  the  lake  near  the  inlet,  whi(di  they  doiibtl('>H(| 
would  have  ascended  in  a  few  days. 

A  consideration  of  small  redtish  from  difVi^ront  localities,  as  to  their  si/.e,  jiroves  interesting;  and  I 
suggestive.     Those  from  Alturas  Lake  are  larger  and  much  more  miiform  in  si/.e  than  those  riinii 
other  places.     Those  from  Washington,  Stuart,  and  Nicola  lakes  are  somewhat  smaller,  while  tliosc] 
from  Wallowa  Lake  are  niaeh  smaller.     These  differences  in  si/e  are,  in  some  lascs,  doubtless  due  ini 
differences  in  age,  the  s|iecimens  having  been  taken  earlii-r  at  some  of  the  lakes  than  at  others.  l>iit| 
the  marked  difi'ereneo  l)etween  the  Alturas  and  Wallowa  specimens  can  not  be  accounted  lor  on  this 
basis.     It  is  doubtful  if  any  of  the  Wallowa  individuals  would  have  reached  even  the  niinimiini  si/c  ot 
those  taken  ut  Alturas  Lake.     This  fact  is  iiroiight  out  in  the  following  table.     In  the  lirst  coliiniii  ;iri' 
given  lengths  in  inches,  the  length  being  measured  to  the  tip  of  the  caudal  fin;  in  the  otii.  r  coliiiinisi 
are  given  the  number  of  tish  of  each  length  from  the  respi^otivo  lakes  named  at  the  head  of  the  c(diniiii> 

7Vi6/e  ihowini/  comparatire  au;ea  of  «;>e(!Jm«H«  of  tlif  Htnall  rrdfiih  from  diffirvnl  liikex 


I.elieth 
ill  iiiinitm. 

AltiirM. 

\V)i!l(iiva. 

3 

1 
1 

} 

1 

WaHliing- 
tiiii. 

Slewiirt. 

Nicola. 

lick. 

T..lal 
iiiiiiilM'r. 

3 
1 

1 
4 

2 

a 
1 

7.00 
H.0(1 
8.2S 
8.  SO 
8.75 
».0(l 
fl.25 
B.50 
0  75 
10.  OO 
10. 1'. 
10  5U 
10.  75 
U.IHI 
li.25 
11.50 
11.75 
12.011 
12.35 
13.50 



1 

2 

1 

t 

•i 

2 

;i 

« 

5 

4 

5 

I 
1 

5 

4 
4 
6 
11 
15 

;t« 

20 

lu 

! 

10 

2 

10 
6 
9 
15 
H9 
30 
111 

'                                            1                       

:::;;;:;  .";.r;; 

1 1 

11          ' 

1. :...;::::.:,            

4 

i "•; 

138 

11 

17 

* 

4 

3 

104 

SALMON    INVESTiuATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN  IN   1896, 


81 


if  the  stream, 
r  iiiiy  icmHisI, 
ly  souic  (it  ii~. 
I  otUor  lislii-. 
II,  no  vedliKli, 
.July  lt>.  anil 
r  ill  tlm  iuli  t 


Table  of  comparatire  mraaiiremiiiitB  of  small  rtdjinli  from  Alluraa  and  fVallowa  lakei. 


iiiber  by  Mr.  1 
w.  This  I'liiiill 
111  lily  a  .Vim/oi.  I 
oiiji.  tlieiithiTl 
itiiins  iiiori'  nr 
II  on  thi'  tly  hy ' 

le.     It'  it  riiincs  j 
lerto  liriMi  Willi- 
Mitly  (•(iiitiinii'- 
nil  with  I'ciiil  ill  I 
The  siicriuuii- 
they  douhth'wsj 

intorcHtint!  iiml 
han  thoHf  Irnnij 
h-r,  whihi  thuHi'! 
louhtli'MS  (liir  li 
^11  at  others,  inii  I 
lilted  lor  (111  tlii-j 
iniiiiiniiiii.si/i'  "ij 
tirst  loliiiiiM  all! 
le  oth.  r  i()liiiiiii»| 
I  ut'  the  I'oluiiins.l 


WbIIowb  Lake. 

No. 

Lenotli 
in  Inohea. 

Sex. 

Head. 

Depth. 

4.00 

Eye. 

Snout. 

Maxil- 
lary. 

Scalea. 

102 

o.;i8 

Male.... 

4.00 

6.00 

4.20 

1.90 

130 

lu:i 

H.50 

...ilo... 

:i.  DO 

4.00 

5.00 

;i.  80 

2.  OO 

13(1 

1U4 

7.13 

...lo     ... 

4.(10 

4.00 

4. 07 

4.00 

1.  H.'i 

127 

lUS 

7.(KI 

4.20 

4.00 

4.50 

4.00 

2.  (Ml 

128 

1U6 

8.75 

..   .li.  .... 

4.00 

4.00 

4.75 

4.  (HI 

2.00 

120 

107 

H.  i:i 

..  ilo... 

4.00 

4.00 

4.87 

4.  .50 

2.00 

127 

1(18 

8.:i8 

..do  .... 

4.  (HI 

3.75 

4.83 

4. 00 

2.00 

120 

lOII 

9.(K) 

...do  .... 

4.(M) 

4.00 

4.75 

4., 50 

2.00 

12B 

110 

H.eii 

...do  ... 

4.00 

4.00 

4.50 

4.10 

2.  (10 

128 

111 

8.2S 

...do  .... 

.1.8:1 

4.00 

4.80 

4.00 

2.00 

122 

112 

8.ai 

...do    ... 

4.00 

4.10 

5.00 

4.00 

2.00 

120 

113 

tt.38 

...do.... 

4.40 

J.  50 

4.25 

5.25 

2.10 

125 

155 

5.2.1 

...do.... 

4.40 

4.50 

4.33 

5.25 

3.13 

124 

Alturaa  Lak 

e. 

Srnlea. 

No. 

Length 
in  inrhee. 

Sex. 
Malp... 

Head. 

Depth. 

4.33 

Kye. 

4.25 

Snout. 

4.  .50 

Maxil. 
lary. 

786 

11.50 

4.50 

2.00 

126 

788 

12.00 

...do  .... 

3.80 

4.00 

5.00 

3.60 

l.RO 

807 

12.  .M 

...do    ... 

3.  73 

4.00 

.■■..25 

3.33 

1.75 

8o;i 

11.50 

...do 

3.8(1 

4.20 

5.00 

3.33 

1  80 

808 

12.00 

K«iiiial«  . 

4.13 

4..M 

4.50 

4.00 

2.00 

811 

12.25 

Mule... 

4.20 

4.40 

5.0(1 

3.07 

1.83 

8111 

12.50 

...do.... 

3.80 

4.20 

5.2, 

3.60 

1.80 

788 

12.25 

..do    ... 

3.75 

4.33 

5.  25 

3.25 

1.80 

813 

11.50 

Female  . 

4.17 

5.00 

4.00 

2.00 

Sni'iiiiien  No.  155  wan  found  dead  on  the  shore  at  head  of  lake;  apeoiniena  Noa.  113 
and  156  with  niidevelo]Msd  huxiiiiI  orgaus. 

24.  Salvellnusmalma  (Walhmini).     Dolly  f'arden  Trout;   Wetlern  Chart;  Hull  Trout. 

Obtained  in  Altiiras,  I'eud  d'Oreille,  and  Wnllowa  lakes,  where  it  is  abundant  and  atl'ords  good 
I  Hjiiirt  for  the  angler.  At  Altiirns  Lake  during  .Inly  a  groat  many  wore  caught  iiboiit  the  inoiith  of  the 
inlet  and  many  large  c\ain|)leH  were  taken  in  Luke  I'end  d'Oreille.  The  charr  is  a  voriiiloiiH  tioh  and 
pieyH  largely  ii|iou  other  species  of  fishes.  In  the  stomachs  of  siime  of  those  examined  at  Lake  Pend 
d'(  treille  were  numerous  specimens  of  l.eucUviii  balUntnt,  I'lijchochcUuH  ortijonentis,  Mijlothciliti  raiiriimi, 
I  and  Coltiit.  All  of  these  exce]>t  M.  iviiriniin  were  found  in  the  stomach  of  one  tish.  Some  specimens 
from  this  lake  were  infest^Ml  about  the  axils  by  a  aiiiall  crustacean  of  the  genus  l.rrmrojtoda. 
Measurements  of  a  number  of  specimens  of  chiirr  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Comparatire  meaturementii  of  charr  from  the  Columbia  Iliver  Basin. 


LeiiKtIi  ill 
iiiidiiw. 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Snout. 

HaxiUary. 

O12.60 

3.80 

4.80 

6.40 

4.00 

3.00 

a  18.  SO 

».40 

6.00 

7.50 

3.00 

1.60 

513. » 

3.83 

6.00 

6.60 

3.60 

1.8S 

<8.  60 

4.20 

5.00 

5.  25 

4.00 

1.86 

0  5.  60 

4.00 

4.75 

6.00 

4.00 

2.00 

dll.60 

4.00 

5.  ,50 

7.00 

3.83 

2.00 

dl0.60 

4.00 

6.00 

6.00 

3.83 

2.00 

dI0.50 

3.83 

6.00 

e.oo 

3.83 

3.00 

dll.OO 

8.75 

6.00 

6.00 

4.00 

2.00 

a  Fnim  Altuni*  Lake,  Idaho. 

fiFroni  Little  White  Salmon  Itiver,  \7a8blnt(ton. 


oFroni  Wiillowii  Lake,  Oregon. 
tlKroiu  Lake  I'eud  d'UreiUe.Idabo. 


1 25.  Salmo  myklsH  olarkll  Richardson.    American  Cut-throat  Trout, 

Numerous  specimens  obtained.     Particularly  abundant  in  Lake  Washington,  Siuslnw  Kivcr,  and  the 

I  lakes  near  its  mouth,  Wallowa  and  Alturas  lakes,  Tpper  Klamath  Lake,  and  in  Des  Chutes  River.    A 

1  comparison  of  many  specimens   indicates  that  it  will   be  necessary  to  recognize  more  siiecies  or 

varieties  of  Salmo  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  I'liited  Stattis  than  have  hithefto  b'on  admitted; 

I  but  it  seems  best  to  hold  the  matter  open  for  additional  data  and  cousidcratiou. 

F.  C.  U,  18IW-6 


82 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


26.  Salmo  gairdneri  Richardson.     Sleelkead  Trout;  "Salmon  Trout." 

Seen  in  large  uiiinberB  iit  Astoria  and  The  UalleH,  Not  cotiiiuon  in  the  Siuslaw,  and  only  2  speci- 
niens  obtained  in  Upper  Klamath  Luke.  While  at  The  Dallett  during  the  laHt  we*-k  in  St^iituniltei 
and  the  first  half  of  October  Mr.  Alexander  exumined  4,179  steelheads,  of  these,  1,531  won^  iniil)>H  anil 
2,648  females;  476  males,  and  'HX)  females  were  well  developed,  and  would  probably  have  spuwiMiil  in 
four  to  six  weeks.  The  remaining  2,803,  be  thinks,  would  not  have  spawned  until  some  time  in  the  j 
spring. 

Sleelhead  talmon  taken  by  Mr.  I.  H.  Taffe,  at  Celilo,  Septembtr  18  to  S2, 1896,  and  examined  bif  Mr.  Alexander. 


Date. 

Hale. 

Female. 

ToUl. 

Bow  oaught. 

Number. 

WeU  de- 
veloped. 

Number. 

Well  de- 
veloped. 

wheel.    1    spear. 

Sept.  18, 18M 

Ill 
130 
121 
159 

10 
28 
2S 
50 

124 
110 
366 
391 

16 

22 

»B 

164 

335 
240 
487 
650 

160 
180 
192 
350 

75 

60 

295 

200 

Sept.  1»,  1896 

Sept.  21,  !890 

Sept.  22, 1890 

521 

126 

991 

299 

1,512 

882 

630 

Sleelhead  salmon  taken  in  80ifM  by  Mr.  F.  A.  Seufert,  at  Celilo,  September  25  to  October  IS,  1896. 


Date. 


Sept.  25,  1896 
Sijpt.  26.  1896 
Sept.  27,  1896 
Sept.  28,  1896 
Sept.  29.  1896 
Oct.  .■•.,  1896.., 
Oct.  7, 1896.., 
Oct.  10, 1896. 
Got.  13, 1800.. 


Male. 

Female. 

Total. 

Number. 

Well  de- 
veloped. 

Number. 

Well  de- 
velo|ied. 

129* 

22 

206 

103 

425 

148 

28 

281 

112 

429 

218 

91 

328 

140 

r>46 

97 

44 

14(1 

48 

2;)7 

176 

77 

234 

72 

410 

49 

12 

50 

14 

00 

lie 

49 

181 

60 

297 

46 

12 

81 

21 

127 

31 

15 

66 

31 

07 

1,010 

350 

1,457 

601 

2,667 

Mr.  Alexander  states  that  not  many  steelhead  are  seen  about  Seattle  until  the  latter  part  of  Novem- 
ber or  oarly  in  December,  or  about  two  months  after  they  be^in  running  up  the  rivers  at  th«nortIi(n'n| 
end  of  the  sound.    During  the  early  part  of  .lanuary,  1897,  a  good  many  were  taken  near  Seattle. 
They  were  considered  equal  in  quality  to  those  taken  in  other  parts  of  the  sound.    Their  eggs  were  iiil 
various  stages  of  development;  a  few  lish  were  spent,  but  the  majority  were  well  advanced  and  wuuld| 
have  spawned  in  a  short  time. 

27.  Hypomesus  pretiosus  (Ciirard). 
Nineteen  specimens  from  IJiusIaw  River  at  Florence,  where  it  is  abundant  about  the  cannery  wharf 

during  the  canning  season. 

28.  Oasterosteus  cataphractus  (Pallas).    Alaska  Stickleback. 
Found  in  Siuslaw  River  at  Florence  and  at  mouth  of  the  outlet  of  Tsiltcoos  Lake.    Only  a  fovvj 

specimens  were  obtained. 

29.  Oasterosteus  wllUamsoni  mlorooephalus  (Qirard).     California  Stickleback. 
Many  specimens  from  Tsiltcoos   Lake,  in  which   it  is  quite  abundant.     A  few  spociinens  wer^ 

obtained  in  Lake  Washington  by  Mr.  Alexander,  where  it  was  also  obtained  in  1893. 

30.  Bipbostoma  griaeolineatum  (Ayres).     Pipefish. 
One  specimen,  lOf  inches  in  length,  from  the  Siuslaw  River  near  Point  Terrace.    It  was  caught  iil 

a  7-ineh-mesli  salmon  gill  net. 

31.  Ammodytos  personatus  Oirard.     Sand  Lance. 
One  specimen,  3|  iucheH  in  length,  from  the  Siuslaw  River  at  Florence.    Dorsal  60;  auitl  26. 

32.  Cynoatogaster  aggregatus  Gibbons. 
Verv  abundant  in  Siuslaw  River  about  the  eunnery  wburf  during  the  cunning  season. 


SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMBIA    BIVKR    BASIN    IN    189C 


H3 


Mr.  Alexander. 


heoanuery  wbaif 


,ake.    Only  ft  few 


w  specimens  wpid 


33.  CottUB  asper  KichartlHoii.     Prickly  Hullheml. 

Nine  ttiiiall  H|)eviiiiisnH  iM>lloctcil  ill  Lnko  WuHbiugtun,  .luue  ir>.      Head  uearly  nr  quite  naked,  liut 
I  entire  body  except  belly  nnifunnly  covered  with  hiuuU  prickleH. 

I  34.  Cottua  guloBua  ((iirurd) 

A  Coltiin  wliK'h   \v<«  with  Home  lieHitation  refer  to  tbis  Hpecies  is  very  abundant  in  fresb  iinil 

I  bnickiHb  watci'H  in  SiiiHlavv  Kivor  and  in  tbe  lakes  HOiitli  of  Florence,  and  easily  caiigbt  on  a  trawl,  or 

I  with  book  and  line.     Mapletou,  Oiokou,  Siuslaw  River,  l.'r>is|iecimen8;  Acme,  Oregon,  Sontb  Sloiigb,  I ; 

Whoahiuk  Lake,  3;  TBiltco()sLake,20;  Tabkeuitcb  L.nko,!);  LakeWaHliinirton,  1;  Lake  tjaninianiisb,  2. 

1 35.  Cottua  punctulatua  (Gill). 
One  specimen,  2.75  incbes  long,  obtained  from  tbe  stomach  of  a  bull  trout,  Alturas  Luke,  July  l(i, 

1 181)6.    Five  from  Alturas  Lake,  July  30,  1896. 

1 36.  Cottua  princepa  Gilbert. 
Vottiig  prinvep*  Gilbert,  Bull.  U.  S.  F.  C.  185*7,  12,  with  figure. 

Eigbttien  specimens  from  relican  Bay,  Upper  Klaniatb  Luke.  Head  31;  depth  5;  D.  viiorvill 
|20  or  21;  A.  16  to  18;  eye  5;  snout  4;  interorbital  width  5}.  Veiitrals  1,4;  lateral  line  scarcely 
Icuinplete;  anterior  portion  of  body  covered  with  prickles;  posterior  part  sinootb  below.  Head  rather 
I  long,  pointed;  maxillaries  reaching  to  front  of  pupil.  Color  same  as  in  C.  leioi>omug,  which  it  closely 
Ires'jmliles,  but  from  which  it  dilTera  in  the  more  nuinerons  dorsal  and  anal  rnys,  the  shorter  snout, 
Isoiuewbat  broader  interorbital,  and  in  having  the  body  covored  with  prickles. 

1 37.  Cottua  klamatbenaia  Gilbert. 
CotUia  klamathenain  Gilbert,  Bull.  U.  S.  F.  C.  18tt7,  10,  with  Hgure. 

Head  3i;  depth  4i ;  eye  3;';;  snout  3i;  I>.  Ml,  19;  A.  13  or  II;  V.  i,  4;  interorbital  width  .'>; 
Iiiiaxillary  reaching  front  of  pupil.  No  teeth  on  ]>alatiuoH;  a  single  .straight  preoperciilar  spine,  appar 
leiilly  disappearing  in  older  exaniiiles;  nostril  in  distinct  tubes;  body  short,  stout;  head  moderately 
lliiiiad,  wedge-sbapiMl  anteriorly;  caudal  peduncle  short,  compressed,  Its  greatest  width  2  in  eye,  least 
lilcplii  1  in  eye;  gill  membraneM  joined  to  tbe  istbinns,  widely  separated;  body  smiiotb.  Color  rather 
lli^lit;  b(Hly  with  about  10  obscure  irregular  vertical  blotches,  but  every wdere  covered  with  minuet 
lliriiwn  spots,  a  V-sba|ied  bar  at  base  of  caudal;  spinous  dorsal  with  a  dark  blotch  on  its  jmsterior 
l|ii)itiou;  soft  dorsal  profusely  covi^ed  with  tine  black  specks;  caudal  faintly  barred  with  dark  and 
|li);liter.    A  single  small  example  from  tbe  lower  ond  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake. 


*'lo.  B — Vranidftt  Irnvii  KviTiimiin  .V  MiM-ii.  iii'W  Hjierieii. 

|38.  Uraiiidea  tenula,  new  species. 

Type  No.  48229,  U.  S.N.  M. ;  cotypes  No.  5705,  L.  S.  Jr.  Univ.  Mus.,  and  No.  4at,  U.S.  F.  C.  Type 
locality:  Lower  end  of  Upper  Klamath  Lake,  near  Klamath  Falls,  Oregon,  November  10,  18!Hi. 
Collectors  Meek  and  Alexander, 
length  of  type,  3  incheH,  or  38  inches  including  caudal.  Ajiparently  allied  to  I'raiiidia  nutnjitiala. 
I  lead  3i ;  depth  7 ;  eye  4i ;  snout  " ;  V.  i,  3;  I),  vi-l,  17 ;  A.  15.  Vomer  with  teeth ;  j.alatines  tootli- 
I.  Head  long,  contracted  froi.i  e^  „s  forward;  suoiit  rather  hmg;  body  much  compressed,  very 
IdeiHlir;  greatest  width  of  caudal  peduncle  2i  in  eje;  least  depth  of  same  slightly  greater  than  eye; 
Iprioinrcnlur  sjdne  well  developed,  broad,  rather  sharp,  jtartly  covered  by  skin,  curved  upward ;  below 
jtliistwo  other  spines,  tbe  anterior  one  blunt,  the  other  sharp,  direct<d  toward  lowr  base  of  jnctoral; 
Ipiistteuiporal  spine  well  developed.  iJody  smooth,  wholly  without  prickles  or  sctles;  lateral  line 
Iwmpluto  except  on  caudal  peduncle. 


84 


BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


Color,  dark  above  and  on  upper  tbree-fourths  of  sides,  pale  below ;  dorsal  llim  barie<l  with  series  o: 
dark  dots  or  blotcbes ;  caudal  similarly  marked  but  rather  darker ;  anal  liRbt  with  a  few  dark  blotches 
pectorals  same  iis caudal ;  vontrals  plain ;  underside  of  head  i)rofusely  covered  with  Hinall,  round  blucl 
specks;  niuciferous  pores  on  head  well  developed. 

Hesides  the  specimen  described  above  we  have  two  others  of  the  same  slender  style  ftom  Pelicai 
Bay,  and  many  others  from  Pelican  Bay,  the  majority  of  which  are  much  smaller  and  less  slender. 
The  slender  ones  are  apparently  entirely  smooth ;  a  ripe  female  3  iuches  long  has  ii  few  prickles  ou 
anterior  part  of  body,  while  all  the  smaller  ones  are  pretty  well  covered  with  small  prickles. 

39.  LeptocottuB  armatus  Girard 
Very  abundant  in  Siuslaw  River  below  Acme  and  easily  caught  ou  a  trawl  or  with  hook  and  line. 

40.  Platiohthys  stellatuB  Pallas.     California  Flounder. 

Common  about  the  mouths  of  Siuslaw  River  and  Ton  Mile  Creek;  occasionally  taken  during  the 
summer  as  far  up  the  river  as  Mupleton.  Of  11  specimens  from  Siuslaw  River  and  Ten  Mile  Creek,  « 
are  dextral  and  5  are  sinistral. 


[1  with  8erio8  o: 
(lark  blotulies 
ikll,  round  blitcV 

)e  from  Pelican 
(1  Ibnb  slender, 
few  i)rickleB  cni 
icklos. 

hook  and  linn, 


^ken  during  tbc 
n  Mile  Creek,  ti 


